Migration policy In September 2021, Paris decided to reduce the number of visas granted to Algeria and Morocco by 50%, angering Rabat
A visa on a passport (illustration). — ABENHAIM
Despite tensions with Morocco in particular, France does not intend to review its copy of its migration policy. Emmanuel Macron indeed defended the policy of firmness on Saturday. on visas, believing that it was beginning to bear fruit.
“The heat wave of the last few months has had an effect,” the Head of State to journalists on the sidelines of the Francophonie summit in Tunisia. “We see that the returns (of expelled migrants) are facilitated,” he added.
“ is on both sides”
In September 2021, Paris decided to to reduce by 50% the number of visas granted to Algeria and Morocco to put pressure on governments deemed too uncooperative in the readmission of their nationals expelled from France. The refusal rate had reached 30% for Tunisia. This hardening triggered the waves of indignation on social networks and acrimonious articles in the media in Morocco and thrown a cold in relations between Rabat and Paris.
“I think at least we had a real debate. over the past few months on the subject of visas,” the French head of state. He highlighted the fact that people in an irregular situation were the fruit of “organised trafficking”. “As part of our partnership,” countries need to take them back, he argued. The refusal to take back deported nationals “is not acceptable,” he also insisted. “The susceptibility is on both sides. France has the right to be susceptible too,” he said.
Emmanuel Macron reiterated his support for “ > mobility students, at mobility economic, academic, political” This mobility has been “endangered by many countries that have not kept their commitments to France,” he insisted. “It is not acceptable that we do not take back foreigners in an irregular situation who were identified as dangerous and disturbing public order,” president.