France Imposes Stricter Measures on Immigration

Philippe announced stricter immigration measures in France.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced stricter immigration measures, including migrant worker quotas, on November 6. This move comes amid the Macron administration’s efforts to push for tougher immigration control.

During a press conference, Philippe stated that the newer measures would allow France to “take back control” of its migration. He further added that the new measures were “about [France’s] sovereignty.”

This announcement came immediately after Labor Minister Muriel Penicaud announced France’s plans to establish migrant worker quotas.

According to Penicaud, this move is primarily about the government paying closer attention to French industry needs. She said that to enact these newer regulations, especially the migrant worker quotas, French authorities would work with employers to identify industries with gaps in terms of professional expertise and accordingly hire foreign workers. "This is about France hiring based on its needs. It's a new approach, similar to what is done in Canada or Australia," Penicaud told BFM TV.

Many analysts believe that these immigration measures are part of Macron’s larger goals to keep his biggest political rival for the presidency, Marine Le Pen and her far-right National Rally party (formerly known as the National Front), at bay.

Professor François Gemenne of the Paris Institute of Political Studies told the Financial Times that Macron is being forced to court the right-wing while paying attention to the demands of his core supporters.

Gemenne also said, “If they want on the one hand to increase economic migration, they feel obliged on the other hand to offer some sops to the far-right.”