France’s new Europe minister will push Brussels to take ‘next step’ in tightening migration rules

PARIS  —  France’s new right-leaning government is going to push Brussels to get tougher on stopping irregular migration, the country’s new junior minister for Europe Benjamin Haddad said.

In his first interview with the press since starting in his new role last week, Haddad told POLITICO that the beginning of Ursula von der Leyen’s second term as European Commission president and what he called the “new legislative cycle” provides an opportunity to “begin deliberations on the next step” of the EU’s efforts to tighten its immigration rules.

“Everywhere, in all of our countries, beyond the left-right divide, there’s a strong demand from our citizens to take control of our immigration,” Haddad said. “It doesn’t mean closing our borders, it means choosing our criteria to stay on our territory and being capable of expelling those who should not stay.”

Europe is experiencing a new wave of anti-immigrant sentiment, with increasing numbers of governments calling for more forceful application of the bloc’s migration rules or, in the case of Hungary and the Netherlands, to allow for opt-outs. Germany, the EU’s biggest economy, reinstated border checks earlier this month to cut down on irregular migration, outraging many of its neighbors.

Haddad declined to spell out exactly what changes France wanted, but he said there should be “no taboos” and mentioned visa policies, foreign aid, and “more ambitious partnerships” with North African countries as potential avenues to pursue. He also insisted on the need for “unity” among EU member states and helping countries on the front lines of Europe’s borders, such as Greece and Italy.

“We have a responsibility to act together,” Haddad said. 

The 38-year-old former director at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank, and lawmaker from Emmanuel Macron’s centrist political party Renaissance, said that while efforts should be targeted at rolling out the measures of the Migration and Asylum Pact, the EU should not ignore countries that want tougher measures — including France itself.

The fight against illegal immigration has already emerged as a key focus of French Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s new government, which is made up of centrists and conservatives. Barnier is supported by the conservative Les Républicains party and the centrist coalition backing Macron, but his Cabinet needs the far-right National Rally to hold back on supporting a motion of no-confidence to survive. 

Last week, new Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, a hardline conservative, called for a “sort of alliance with [EU] countries who want a tougher response on immigration to review European legislation that is no longer relevant.” While France hasn’t so far been among the EU countries pushing for tougher measures, Retailleau and Haddad’s comments suggest it’s moving closer to the hawkish line.

Barnier, who was the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, argued last Sunday that France needs a tougher stance on immigration. He said that fixes could come via “practical measures” rather than new legislation.