French Policy in the Field of Settlement of the Illegal Migration’ Problem

Abstract

This article focuses on France’s policy in the field of illegal migration, which has played an important role in the political transformation of the country and the EU as a whole. The global financial and economic crisis of 2009, conflict in third world countries made serious «adjustments» to the process of illegal migration to European countries, which in the following years grew into a difficult to control process, which is now a serious destabilizing factor in the region. Over the last fifteen years, the EU’s migration policy has changed significantly and taken on a new meaning. However, as the example of France's fight against illegal migration shows, it is extremely difficult for one to do so, as the problem is no longer national but international.

One of the main lobbyists for the implementation of the updated migration policy package is Nicolas Sarkozy, who during his political career passed a number of rather strict and restrictive laws and amendments to regulations, the main purpose of which was to improve the general social climate. To regulate migration processes, the French government has created a multi-level system of government agencies and bodies.

The final stage of reforming French migration policy was the adoption on March 8, 2016 of the Law on Foreigners, which contained provisions on the reception and integration of immigrants, a new procedure for issuing residence permits, and provisions on illegal migrants in the country.

In 2017, France focused on supporting the actions of EU states to protect the external borders, which included strengthening the police corps and increasing the number of border police in the framework of building a single pan-European border control system; establishment of checkpoints in the countries of origin of migrants in order to limit the number of refugees before arriving in the EU; stepping up the fight against illegal immigration in the EU and its organizers. During 2019-2021, the French government took a number of other important steps to combat illegal migration in the country and the region.