Paris - In an effort to aid its ailing newspapers, the French government is offering adults between the ages of 18 and 24 a free one-year subscription to their favourite broadsheet or tabloid, the daily Le Figaro reported Thursday.

"Trade unions foresee 200,000 subscriptions with a potential of reaching 750,000 young adults," Culture Minister Christine Albanel said.

The measure will cost the government some 5 million euros (7 million dollars) a year.

The project is part of a series of measures proposed by President Nicolas Sarkozy to help struggling French newspapers. The government has earmarked 200 million euros for the entire aid package.

Half of that total has already been spent, Albanel said. (dpa)