A recent study points to the restrictive nature of French immigration policy, making it one of the toughest amongst the countries of ‘Old Europe’.

The study, carried out under the auspices of the British Council, compared the immigration policies of the 26 member states of the EU, plus Canada, Norway and Switzerland, according to a number of different ‘best practice’ criteria.

The policies relate to those migrants seeking to relocate to France from outside of the European Union.

In the study, France is classified 11th, with a score of 55 out of a 100, some distance behind those leading countries considered to have more favourable policies, such as Sweden (88), Portugal (79), and Belgium (69). The United Kingdom comes in 9th place, a position that would have been higher but for (primarily) its restrictive policies on political participation.

In large measure, France achieves this moderate rating because of its anti-discrimination policies, and its policy on double nationality. The high rating on anti-discrimination has surprised a number of commentators, who consider that the reality is often far from the rhetoric.

In relation to family reunion and long-term residence, France is considered to have particularly tough policies. On labour market access, it also comes in a lowly 16th place.

It comes lower that the United Kingdom on all criteria other than political participation, where France comes in 13th place, with the UK two places behind.

Under the new policies, the primary basis for immigration into France in future, for those from outside of Europe, will be for economic reasons, (l’immigration choisie) rather than for family reunion.

It looks as though it is also going to become more difficult to obtain French nationality. Over the past two years, the number of migrants able to obtain naturalisation has substantially reduced. Whilst in 2004 around 168,000 migrants obtained French nationality, this number went down to around 100,000 in 2007, a figure likely to drop further in 2008.

The new Government has also taken a tough line on illegal immigrants, with the President announcing a target of 25,000 deportations a year, a target that was only partially achieved in its first year. Nevertheless, the basis on which the selection is being made remains shrouded in mystery. In a recent startling television documentary, undercover police were seen to be randomly stopping black African males at a central Paris railway station, and taking them off to the police station if they were unable to produce identity papers.

The policy is also clouded by a commitment to regularise, on a case-by-case basis, the situation of those illegally in France, employed in those sectors of the economy where there is a labour or skills shortage. Employers in the hotel and catering industry, in particular, have expressed concern that, without some substantial regularisation, the industry will be in real difficulty.

France is a leading proponent for tougher, more unified immigration policies across Europe, including the introduction of quotas, biometric passports, European frontier police, and a European wide policy on refuge status. These are proposals that will be high on the agenda during the forthcoming French Presidency of Europe, commencing July this year.

The restrictive policies are close to the heart of the new President (himself born of an immigrant family) but, as was strongly proposed in the recent report of the Attali Commission on Economic Growth, these policies sit uncomfortably with the need for France to adopt more open immigration policies to achieve economic objectives.