what is a readmission agreement signed by France with Kazakhstan?

1. What is a readmission agreement?

A readmission agreement is an agreement signed by two parties to establish “rapid and effective procedures for the identification and safe and orderly return of persons who do not, or no longer, meet the conditions to enter or remain in the territory » from one of the two parties in question, according to a summary note from the Ministry of the Interior.

In other words, this type of agreement signed between France and a third country allows the return of citizens of this country, or having transited through this country, to this third country if they do not obtain a regular situation in France. In addition to agreements signed at EU level, France has concluded numerous bilateral readmission agreements, notably with European countries (Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Spain, etc.) but also African countries (Cape Verde, Tunisia). , Burkina Faso…).

2. Why an agreement with Kazakhstan?

The meeting in Paris between Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokaïev and Emmanuel Macron made it possible to strengthen ties between the two countries, particularly within the framework of the Strategic Partnership Treaty linking the two states. The readmission agreement is part of this trend.

As an important regional hub in Central Asia, Kazakhstan attracts many migrants from neighboring countries, including Afghanistan. However, for six years, Afghanistan has been the leading country of origin for asylum seekers in France, with more than 17,000 requests in 2023 according to Ofpra. The readmission agreement would therefore make it possible to send illegal Afghan migrants to Kazakhstan, provided “that they have transited through Kazakhstan or have obtained authorization to stay there in the past”, indicates Euractiv.

3. How effective are readmission agreements?

The rate of effectiveness of this type of agreement remains difficult to measure. According to the European Migration Network, “eight EU member states considered the acceleration of return operations as a tangible result of existing bilateral readmission agreements.”