Faced with criticism from the left on the words of Emmanuel Macron worrying about possible “irregular migratory flows” from Afghanistan, after the seizure of power by the Taliban, the Elysee said on Tuesday that the France was one of the countries that granted the most protection to Afghans.
“We have nothing to be ashamed of because we are one of the countries which host the most Afghans and which give them the most protection”, underlined the presidency.
A “confusion between asylum and irregular immigration”
In the context of the crisis linked to the return of the Taliban to power, “France is very attentive to the situation of the Afghans” but “that does not prevent – which would be showing naivety and lack of responsibility – from being very firm in the face of trafficking and networks that take advantage of the misery and fear ”of those who wish to leave the country, she added.
Several officials of the left and associations denounced the remarks made Monday evening by Emmanuel Macron, who assured that France was doing “its duty to protect those who are most threatened”, while affirming the need to “protect us against significant irregular migration flows ”. The environmentalist deputy (ex-LREM) Matthieu Orphelin accused him of maintaining a “confusion between asylum and irregular immigration” while the president of SOS Racisme Dominique Sopo affirmed that “people fleeing war, oppression and death ”were not“ irregular migratory flows ”.
Towards a “controlled” reception of “particularly vulnerable” Afghan refugees?
But, for the Elysee Palace, “the collective interest” of the international community is “to anticipate” in “coordination with the neighboring countries of Afghanistan and the transit countries”. “Vigilance is necessary in relation to networks, human trafficking and malicious intentions,” added a presidential adviser, alluding to possible terrorist threats.
“The more we anticipate, the more we can do our duty”, he stressed, specifying that France would take “its part within the framework of an international agreement”. On this issue, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron “are exactly on the same line,” says the Elysee. Angela Merkel said on Tuesday that she was open to the “controlled” reception of “particularly vulnerable” Afghan refugees.
Almost 10,000 asylum requests from Afghans
Many voices were raised in Germany against a scenario similar to that of September 2015 when Angela Merkel opened the doors of her country to refugees, especially from Syria. Germany received more than one million asylum seekers in 2015 and 2016.
Since 2018, France has received some 10,000 asylum applications from Afghans for a total of around 50,000 for all EU countries. Ofpra (French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons), which has handled 8,200 cases since the start of the year, grants the request for protection in 64% of cases, a figure which reaches 89.9% after examination of the appeals. , against an average of 63% for the whole of the EU, according to figures given by the Elysee.