France pushes for hard-nosed EU migration pact
ELITSA VUCHEVA
29.05.2008 @ 09:25 CET
France is planning to table proposals that would make it harder for immigrants to get into Europe when it takes over as EU presidency country in the second half of this year.
According to a report in the Financial Times on Thursday (29 May), Paris is proposing a "pact on immigration" under which efforts to crack down on illegal immigrants would be coordinated.
The French president based much of his pre-electoral campaign on tighter anti-immigration measures (Photo: The Council of the European Union)
The French proposal contains new measures to return those illegally residing in the EU to their countries and calls for tougher "re-admission" deals regulating these returns. Additionally, those seeking asylum could be forced to apply for refugee status in advance.
To integrate the newcomers, EU states are encouraged to put in place compulsory "integration contracts," making it obligatory for the immigrants to adopt "national and European values," says the newspaper. They would have to take compulsory language lessons as well.
The document also calls for the implementation of biometric visas and says immigration may be limited to those whose skills are needed in the host country.
"Europe does not have the means to welcome with dignity all those who see an El Dorado in it," it reads.
During his term as interior minister, current French president Nicolas Sarkozy – himself the son of a Hungarian immigrant – made a similar remark: "We can't offer housing and jobs to all those who think France is an El Dorado."
The country has been tightening up its own immigration rules lately, notably after Mr Sarkozy won last year's presidential elections basing much of his campaign on immigration issues.
He said that France is "exasperated by uncontrolled immigration."
Between 23,000 and 24,000 illegal immigrants were expelled from France in 2007 – compared to around 10,000 in 2002. French prime minister Francois Fillon said in February the objective is to reach 26,000 expulsions in 2008.
Additionally, the French parliament last year approved a bill introducing the possibility to have foreigners hoping to join relatives in France pass a DNA test to prove they are related.
The French proposal is currently being discussed by EU states and can still be modified, but Paris is hoping it will be adopted under its six-month presidency of the 27-nation bloc.
