Prime Minister François Bayrou is bringing together key ministers this Wednesday to tackle one of France’s most pressing issues – managing migration flows more effectively.This comes as the French government remains divided on the best approach to immigration and growing tensions with Algeria.
Starting at 2:00 PM, around ten ministers will convene for an "Interministerial Council on Immigration Control" (CICI) in a bid to strengthen national, European, and diplomatic strategies to regulate migration more effectively.
Among those called to the table are Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Health and Labor Minister Catherine Vautrin, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, and several others.
The meeting – expected to last just over an hour – will conclude with a statement from Bayrou.
A key focus will be the implementation of the European Asylum and Migration Pact, adopted last May and set to take effect in mid-2026. The pact aims to tighten border screening and enhance solidarity among EU nations.
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Dispute with Algiers
The CICI – originally established in 2005 – was recently reactivated by Retailleau in response to increasing migration pressures.
“The French people expect greater control over migration flows,” he emphasised when announcing the council’s revival in January.
The timing of Wednesday's meeting is particularly significant, coming just days after a tragic knife attack in the eastern French city of Mulhouse, allegedly committed by an Algerian national.
The incident has intensified the ongoing diplomatic dispute with Algeria, which has repeatedly refused to take back nationals expelled from France.
Bayrou did not mince words on Monday, calling Algeria’s refusal to cooperate “unacceptable.”
He revealed that the suspect had been presented to the Algerian authorities for deportation ten times – each time without success.
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Hardline or dialogue?
With pressure mounting, the government remains split on how to address the standoff with Algeria.
Interior Minister Retailleau has advocated for a tougher stance – including revoking privileges for Algerian diplomats and officials.
Government spokesperson Sophie Primas has mooted reducing visa allocations, particularly for key figures in Franco-Algerian relations. “We don’t have to issue so many visas,” she remarked on Monday, hinting at targeted restrictions for influential Algerian officials.
Retailleau has gone even further – aligning with former Prime Ministers Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal – in questioning broader agreements with Algeria dating back to 1968.
Foreign Minister Barrot, however, remains cautious. “Simply cutting off visas to a country doesn’t work,” he insisted on Sunday.
He pointed out that when France reduced visa numbers in the past, the annual expulsion rate was around 800.
But when diplomatic cooperation improved, that number tripled.
