The French Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, proposed on Wednesday to “restrict the granting of visas” for countries which refuse to readmit their nationals in an irregular situation in France, as part of a new hardening of migration policy.
This concrete measure aims in particular, without explicitly naming them, the Maghreb countries, which are reluctant to deliver the consular pass necessary for the expulsion of their nationals.
“France no longer masters its migration policy in a satisfactory manner,” said Barnier at a press conference, announcing that his government would also propose to “facilitate the exceptional extension of the retention of foreigners in an irregular situation, to better execute the obligations to leave French territory” (OQTF).
These proposals arise three weeks after the murder of a student in Paris, whose suspect, a Moroccan national, was targeted by an unpaid OQTF.
In 2021, France had already reduced visas for Algeria and Morocco by 50 %, and 30 % for Tunisia.
The Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, said he was in favor of the revision of certain bilateral agreements, in particular with Algeria, facilitating the arrival of foreign nationals.
