French President Emmanuel Macron called on Algeria on Friday to re-engage in work with France regarding immigration agreements, warning against political maneuvers that he described as "political games." This marks his first statement following the recent tensions between Algiers and Paris over Algeria’s refusal to cooperate in receiving its nationals whom France seeks to deport.
According to French media reports, Macron urged Algeria, during a speech at a press conference in Porto, Portugal, to engage in direct dialogue with Paris instead of communicating through statements and press releases, describing this approach as "ridiculous."
In this context, Macron stated, "We will not make progress if there is no work. We cannot communicate through the press; it is ridiculous, and things do not work that way." He further emphasized, "Relations should not be subject to political games."
It is worth noting that the French government has given Algeria a deadline of one to six weeks to cooperate in receiving its citizens whom Paris wishes to deport. France has also threatened to cancel bilateral agreements between the two countries if no clear solutions are reached regarding this sensitive issue.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou stated in a press conference on Wednesday, following a ministerial meeting on immigration policies, "We cannot continue to accept this situation, where individuals who should return to their country are refused entry." He affirmed that France remains committed to bilateral agreements but will not hesitate to review them if Algeria does not comply.
French-Algerian relations have been experiencing growing tensions in recent months, particularly due to Algeria's repeated refusal to accept some of its deported nationals from France. Paris considers this a major obstacle to implementing its immigration control policies. Algeria is home to one of the largest diaspora communities in France, making the issue of immigration highly sensitive and complex between the two countries.
As part of this deadline, France plans to submit an "urgent" list to the Algerian government, including names of individuals whom Paris believes should be repatriated. Bayrou stated that France will await Algeria’s response to this list before making any further decisions regarding the future of bilateral agreements.
This move follows the recent "terrorist" attack in the city of Mulhouse, where an Algerian national residing illegally in France was accused of killing one person and injuring seven others. The incident has increased pressure on the French government to take stricter measures against illegal immigration. Bayrou described the event as further evidence of the need for stricter enforcement of deportation laws.
In an attempt to pressure Algeria, Bayrou has ordered a "ministerial audit" of visa issuance policies for Algerian nationals, which could signal potential future restrictions on visa grants if Algeria continues to refuse cooperation on deportations.
Despite these tensions, the French prime minister stressed that France does not seek escalation with Algeria but will not compromise on enforcing its immigration policies. He stated, "We want practical solutions and serious cooperation, not just empty promises that cannot be implemented."
