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by afew
Tue Jul 8th, 2008 at 08:51:49 AM EST
After the "Return" Directive, the French Offensive. French Minister for Immigration and National Identity, Brice Hortefeux, chaired a meeting of EU Interior Ministers in Cannes yesterday, that reached unanimous agreement on common measures against undocumented non-EU immigrants. Le Figaro today can hardly contain its glee:
| Le Figaro - France : Immigration : feu vert des 27 au plan français | | Le Figaro - France: Immigration: green light from the 27 to French plan | | Le ton se veut conciliant, mais le changement de cap est entériné : l'époque des régularisations massives est désormais révolue en Europe. Ce constat s'accompagne de l'affirmation selon laquelle «les étrangers en situation irrégulière sur le territoire des États membres doivent quitter ce territoire». Chaque capitale «s'engage à assurer l'applicationeffective de ce principe». | | The tone is meant to be conciliatory, but the change of direction is confirmed: the era of regularisation en masse is now over in Europe. With this affirmation goes the statement that "illegal aliens within the territory of Member States must leave this territory." Each capital "is committed to ensuring effective implementation of this principle." | | Les États membres sont invités à «recourir à des dispositifs communs pour assurer l'éloignement des étrangers en situation irrégulière», tels que l'identification biométrique des clandestins ou l'utilisation de vols conjoints. Bien que condamné par les ONG, ce tour de vis est parfaitement assumé par l'UE. «On ne transforme pas l'Europe en blockhaus. Il y a sur ce territoire six millions d'illégaux. Il faut lutter contre l'immigration illégale et encadrer l'immigration légale», a insisté le ministre de l'Intérieur allemand, Wolfgang Schauble. | | Member States are invited to "resort to common procedures to ensure the removal of illegal aliens", such as biometric identification of illegal immigrants or use of joint flights. Although this turn of the screw is condemned by NGOs, the EU assumes full responsibility for it. "It does not transform Europe into a bunker. There are six million illegals in this territory. We must fight against illegal immigration and set a frame for legal immigration", insisted the German Interior Minister, Wolfgang Schäuble. |
Hortefeux, Schäuble, UMP house newspaper Le Figaro, all are so pleased. Follow me below the fold for further good news.
- Paula is from Angola. She has three children, Epifanio, 16, Jesse, 14, Débora 8. Her husband, opposition activist, is dead, and she had to flee from reprisals after a violent arrest. Her application for political asylum in France was turned down. She was served an OQTF (Obligation de Quitter le Territoire Français, summons to leave French territory) that she appealed against in vain before the Administrative Tribunal. Her request for discretionary regularisation was rejected by the Prefect. She is likely to be sent with her children to a retention centre any day now (school is over and the summer holidays are much more convenient for this kind of move).
- Aïda, Armenian, has two daughters, Karine 12 and Nelly 10. Victim of interethnic conflicts between Azeris and Armenians, she was separated from her husband from whom she has had no further news and fears the worst. Her application for political asylum was turned down, as was her request for discretionary regularisation by the Prefect, who had her served an OQTF, appeal before the Administrative Tribunal rejected. She is likely to be sent with her children to a retention centre any day now (school is over etc...)
- Georgette is from DRC and arrived in France, after a stay in French territory Mayotte, with her four children Aristote, 14, Naomi, 12, Innocent, 5, Esther, 1. Her application for political asylum was turned down. She expects to be served an OQTF any time now.
- Joaquim, from Angola, is with his daughter Maveilha, 7. Threatened in his country because of his participation in opposition movements. His application for political asylum was turned down. He was served an OQTF, appeal rejected. He is likely to be sent with his daughter to a retention centre any day now.
(Note 1: The children of school age mentioned have all been at school in France for two or three years now.)
(Note 2: "retention" is a euphemism for detention aka imprisonment. The Return Directive, which will no doubt be transposed into French and other MS law with no delay, provides for up to 18 months "retention".)
Have I cherry-picked these from a national list? I have not. These are just some cases from a very small town not far from where I live.
LATEST:
The joyful M Hortefeux can't wait for October, when he'll be chairing another Council meeting of Interior Ministers on integration policy ie language and culture tests (which didn't get through in the Cannes meeting yesterday).
He is organising it in the town of Vichy.
Where else?
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