In France, the three Maghreb countries, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, alone represent a third of regular immigration. But which country occupies the first place among the countries of origin of immigration?
According to data from the French Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, Insee, 46% of immigrants in France were born in a country on the African continent, or 2.9 million people.
Data dating back to 2018 also indicates that 1.9 million of these foreign nationals are from the Maghreb, or 30% of immigrants, a proportion that has remained stable since the 1980s. But which country provides the most immigrants? For the French right, the answer is Algeria thanks to the Franco-Algerian agreements of 1968. But the figures say something else.
Which is the Maghreb country where the greatest number of foreigners in France come from?
Speaking this week on BFMTV in the context of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Morocco, Patrick Stefanini, former secretary general of the French Ministry of Immigration and National Identity under Nicolas Sarkozy, detailed this point, revealing the leading country of origin of immigration to France.
“First, it must be remembered that, among the countries of origin of immigration, Morocco is in first place,” said the former official. In other words, he explains that it is from Morocco that the greatest number of foreigners come to France.
Morocco is followed immediately by Algeria in terms of the number of nationals living in France, then by Tunisia. This means that these three Maghreb countries represent “a third of legal immigration to France”, the speaker further underlined.
« If France loses with Algeria what it gains with Morocco, it will miss the point »
Furthermore, Patrick Stefanini did not fail to point out that these three countries also represent two thirds of the expulsions of nationals in an irregular situation. For him, the question of OQTF should therefore be included in the visit of the French head of state to Morocco.
For him, in any case, what we should be happy about is “the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Morocco”. France indeed “needs to cooperate with this country in all areas, including the area of OQTF”.
Still on the subject of the French president’s visit to Morocco, the speaker also hopes that it will not result in a deterioration of relations with Algeria. According to him, “if France loses with Algeria what it gains with Morocco, it will miss the point,” he said.
ON THE SAME SUBJECT:
Difficult days await Moroccan immigrants in France
