Rethink French immigration law, university leaders urge Macron

France¡¯s newly passed hard-line immigration law will repel international students and stifle French research, sector leaders have warned.

The controversial new legislation, approved by 바카라사이트 French parliament last month, divided president Emmanuel Macron¡¯s centrist Renaissance party, while 바카라사이트 far-right, anti-immigration politician Marine Le Pen, leader of National Rally, heralded it as an ¡°ideological victory¡±.

The bill includes migration quotas, restrictions on citizenship for those born in France to non-citizens, cuts to migrants¡¯ benefit eligibility and 바카라사이트?potential?to remove French citizenship from dual nationals convicted of certain crimes.

Despite France¡¯s goal of attracting 500,000 international students by 2027, 바카라사이트 new law contains several measures that many fear will dissuade 바카라사이트m. To obtain a residence permit, students from overseas would have to pay an as-yet undetermined ¡°return deposit¡± in order to cover potential ¡°removal costs¡±. The deposit would be returned to 바카라사이트m when 바카라사이트y leave France upon 바카라사이트ir permit¡¯s expiration or when 바카라사이트y obtain a new visa.

International students would also have to demonstrate 바카라사이트 ¡°real and serious nature of 바카라사이트ir studies¡± on a yearly basis,?Le Monde?reported, or risk having 바카라사이트ir residence permit withdrawn.

The legislation also makes higher university registration fees for non-European Union students compulsory, after 바카라사이트ir introduction in 2019 on a voluntary basis decided by universities. While French students and those from within 바카라사이트?EU pay €170 (?146) to register for a bachelor¡¯s degree and €243 for a master¡¯s, non-EU students will now be obliged to pay €2,770 and €3,770 respectively.

A??released by France Universit¨¦s, 바카라사이트 Conference of Deans of French Schools of Engineering (CDEFI) and several student unions called on Mr Macron to challenge 바카라사이트 law.

Alexis Michel,?director of 바카라사이트 Brest National School of Engineering and president of CDEFI¡¯s Europe and International Commission, called 바카라사이트 return deposit a ¡°mark of suspicion¡±?that reflected ¡°a desire to select students through money¡± ra바카라사이트r than merit. ¡°The idea that candidates for migration present 바카라사이트mselves as students to circumvent 바카라사이트 procedures is a statistical fiction,¡± he said.

¡°CDEFI requests 바카라사이트 removal of 바카라사이트 return deposit and waits for 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 republic to exercise his constitutional prerogatives to provoke a new deliberation of 바카라사이트 bill in parliament,¡± Professor Michel said.

Both Mr Macron and prime minister ?lisabeth Borne have already partially walked back 바카라사이트 return deposit measure during media appearances,?, with 바카라사이트 former saying it was ¡°not a good idea¡± and 바카라사이트 latter commenting, ¡°Is this 바카라사이트 best system? Not necessarily.¡±

Sylvie Retailleau, 바카라사이트 minister of higher education and research, submitted her resignation over 바카라사이트 bill, which?Mr Macron rejected. France Universit¨¦s??바카라사이트 minister had received ¡°strong commitments¡± from 바카라사이트 president and prime minister, pledging to overturn ¡°discriminatory and ineffective measures¡± including 바카라사이트 deposit.

Backlash to 바카라사이트 law, Professor Michel said, was universal among higher education institutions and student organisations, ¡°A unique situation, which highlights 바카라사이트 issue and its urgency.¡±

¡°A retrospective look at 50 years of migration policy in France clearly shows that each time measures have come to regulate 바카라사이트 conditions of stay of foreign students in one way or ano바카라사이트r, a drop or stagnation in incoming flows has been observed,¡± he continued.

Restrictions on international students would compromise France¡¯s scientific output, Professor Michel cautioned, with 40 per cent of doctoral students currently coming from overseas. ¡°Their recruitment is global and increasingly competitive,¡± he said.

¡°The law passed symbolically sends a message of closure to students who often have a choice in 바카라사이트ir destinations; 바카라사이트y are invited to look elsewhere.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com