Marlène Schiappa, French Minister Delegate for Citizenship, tried to justify the decision taken by the French Government to reduce by half the granting of visas issued for Algeria and Morocco, as well as being decreased by 30% for Tunisia.
‘’This is not blackmail and the goal is not to reduce visas’’, she said.
Accordingly, France pointed to the responsibility of the three countries to accept to take back nationals since they are accused of not issuing enough “consular passes” necessary for the return of immigrants turned back from France.
‘’There are a number of tools that are available to France and we use them,’’ Marlène Schiappa added. Besides, she confirmed that ‘’ what is popular with the Republicans is cutting development aid. The reaction of the countries concerned shows that this decision affects them’’.
On the other hand, Nasser Bourita claimed that ‘’Morocco has always managed the migration issue and the flow of people with logic of responsibility and balance between facilitating the movement of people […] as well as the fight against illegal migration’’.
He added that ‘’ France’s decision is sovereign. Morocco will study it, but the reasons for it require precision as they do not reflect reality’’.
By Nouhaila El Bouhli
