Paris decided to tighten the conditions for granting visas to citizens of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia in response to the "refusal" of the three countries to issue the necessary consular permits to return immigrants from their citizens, government spokesman Gabriel Attal announced on Tuesday.
He said in statements on "Europe 1" radio that this decision "is a radical and unprecedented decision, but it was necessary because these countries do not accept the return of nationals we do not want and we cannot keep in France."
According to what was reported by the radio website, with regard to the case of Algeria - in the period from January to July this year - the French judiciary issued 7,731 commitments to leave French territory, while only 22 Algerians returned to their homes, or just over about 0.2%.
Refusals and decisions
According to the French authorities, this is due to the fact that Algeria refuses to issue the consular permits necessary to deport its citizens, a document without which the expulsion cannot be carried out.
According to the same website, after the French authorities took many approaches to resolve the matter, adopted dialogue, intensified development aid and resorted to threats as a last resort, the French executive authorities adopted sanctions.
And she indicated that this decision was made secretly a month ago, as Head of State Emmanuel Macron decided to halve the number of visas issued to Algeria and Morocco, and by 30% to Tunisia, considering 2020 as a reference year.
The site indicated that with immigration occupying the center stage and attention among the French, Macron knows that he does not have time until the presidential elections, and if he wants to correct his immigration policies, he will have no other choice but to make radical decisions.