Europe 1 1:29 p.m., September 28, 2021, modified at 1:40 p.m., September 28, 2021
France has reduced the number of visas granted to Maghreb states to put pressure on these countries, which refuse to accept their nationals expelled from French territory.
On Europe 1, the Franco-Moroccan journalist Mustapha Tossa affirms that this decision may deteriorate relations between France and the Maghreb.
Emmanuel Macron bangs his fist on the table with the Maghreb countries. While Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco refuse to take back their nationals expelled from French territory, France has decided to drastically reduce the number of visas granted to these countries as revealed by Europe 1 on Tuesday morning. Concretely, the French government is halving the number of visas issued for Algeria and Morocco, and by 30% for Tunisia, based on the figures for 2020.
If this retaliatory measure taken by Emmanuel Macron can be put into perspective six months before the presidential election, for Mustapha Tossa, Franco-Moroccan journalist, the foreign ministries of the Maghreb countries are "in shock because they could not not expect such spectacular, drastic action ".
This is what he said on Europe 1.
"Increasing the number of visas is a permanent demand"
A few hours after the revelation of these retaliatory measures, the three countries concerned have not yet commented on this Paris decision.
"To resort to this weapon of sanction of the visas, it surprises on behalf of the French", explains the journalist, who recalls the importance of these documents for the Maghrebians.
"The request to increase the volume of visas is a permanent request. This sanction will have a lot of effects. Social networks in the Maghreb have taken hold of it, and there are a lot of comments, reactions", underlines Mustapha Tossa .
Tensions to come between France and the Maghreb countries?
The measure allows France to put pressure on the Maghreb countries to issue consular laissez-passer, a document necessary to apply the expulsion of a national from French territory.
"France strikes in the symbolic and in what links it with these countries", recognizes the Franco-Moroccan journalist.
"This concerns leisure, business or study trips. Halving the number of visas is unprecedented," he adds.
But Mustapha Tossa warns against a deterioration of relations between France and the Maghreb countries.
"Will this decision really push these countries to change their behavior in relation to the reception of their citizens?", He adds, wondering if the North Africans who come to France for tourism, studies and business will be really penalized.