The French media has poured cold water on the French-inspired draft agreement for a European Union pact on migration and asylum, with a section of the press even going as far as to question the real motives behind it.
On Tuesday, most newspaper headlines remained skeptics on the reform package that will see tougher immigration policies, both in France and at European level, even after a group of immigration ministers unanimously endorsed the French draft during an informal mini-summit in Cannes, southern France.
The media was only adding its voice to a series of criticism, mainly led by human rights groups and associations across France and Europe, who have said that the new move was trying to establish a so-called "Fortress Europe."
Complicating the situation further, the Mazeaud Committee, which was established by President Nicolas Sarkozy to look into the possibility of adopting a quota system in migration statistics, has just issued its verdict, rejecting the idea as "in contravention of the French constitution."
"The head of state and his government are once again trying to suggest that he is establishing a free contract, in which, immigrants would certainly be attributed duties, which will guarantee their rights... Only that, free choice will be non existent for anyone outside the fortress Europe," wrote Maurice Ulrich in the Humanite daily.
Writing in the widely read La Croix daily, Dominica Gerbaud offered a somewhat somber assessment of the situation saying: "Even if a consensus is still elusive on these issues, the new policies will only be acceptable and applicable after a lengthy explanation."
However, the respected editorialist recognized that "the strength of the French position will be to take the bull by the horns, at a time when political leaders were often in self-delusion or denial."
According to Jean-Claude Kiefer of Les Nouvelles d'Alsace, President Nicolas Sarkozy's initial suggestion has been watered down greatly in the process reducing impact: "From compromise to compromise, the initial project vigorously defended by President Sarkozy is still in the same package but with less content."
L'Est Republican's Remi Godeau was more optimistic in his choice of words: "Faced with states that are jealous of their prerogatives, the union has so far merely agreed on the implementation of half-measures. It is now going to have a real strategy in the management of migratory flows."
The same line was adopted by Patrick Fluckiger in the Alsace daily, who said: "In his push to establish a Europe that protects its citizens, Nicolas Sarkozy is timely in coming up with the pact."
Pierre Mazeaud, a senior French politician, who has been around since the times of Gen. de Gaulle, was not spared by the press, which saw, in him, a spoiler. "The battle is far from won," said Fluckiger, accusing "the Mazeaud Committee of harshly criticizing quotas that are so dear to France."
In Paris-Normandie, one of the French capital's most read newspapers, Michel Lepinay described the principle of "selective immigration" as expounded by President Sarkozy as "very questionable and very difficult to implement."
"What is the chance of successfully putting in place a Maginot Line supposed to prevent the free movement of people in an economy that is increasingly globalized," wondered Lepinay, referring to France's world war II defense line that crumbled under an invasion led by Hitler.
The skepticism is shared by Le Republicain Lorrain daily, whose editorialist, Peter Frehel, was quoted as saying: "The forcefulness of the president, who has already had to make some concessions to win the support of our twenty-six partners, might not recover from the criticism of the Mazeaud Committee."
Dominica Garraud of La Charente Libre was even severe in his criticism and showed little enthusiastic over the head of state's driven pact. "To pretend that this first act of a French presidency... would be a major step forward in the integration of European policies is, to say the least, abusive of our collective intelligence."
With human rights groups and leaders of the so-called "countries of origin," mainly drawn from the developing world, up in arms against the proposed pact, the adoption of the agreement is still hanging in the balance, according to observers.
Source:Xinhua
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