Algerians Are Not Concerned With Reducing The Visa Quota, Xavier Driencourt Says

In light of the controversy over the decision of the French embassy in Algeria to reject several files for the Schengen visa application that were granted to the Algerians, the head of the French diplomacy in Algeria, Xavier Driencourt, hastened to “contain the situation and calm the atmosphere”, through reassuring messages that the Algerians are not interested in reducing the quotas of the states that are cooperating in the illegal immigration file.

The French ambassador, Xavier Driencourt, said in a press statement, on Sunday, on the sidelines of attending the graduation ceremony, which was overseen by the Trade Minister, Said Djallab; “The information that there is a reduction of the visa quotas for Algerians is unfounded”.

“Figures that were provided by the French Embassy in Algeria prove the contrary of the circulating rumors, on visa applications. The General Consulate does not think at the moment to reduce the visa quota that is granted to Algerians.”

French ambassador to Algeria announced the arrival of the General Consul, Marc Sedille, who was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron, to Algiers.

The statement of Xavier Driencourt on the visa file came after the French authorities included an amendment to the Immigration and Asylum Act, which provides for a reduction in the number of visas that are granted to nationals of countries that have illegal immigrants on the French territory, and which are not cooperating adequately with Paris to deport them to their countries of origin, which is a measure that could affect Algerians for several reasons, the most important of which is that Paris ranks Algeria as one of the few countries to cooperate in this field by 52% of the applications that were submitted to it.

Echorouk discussed in previous times, the file in detail, stating that the first consideration that can be assumed is the state of tension that prevailed in the file of visas in the last period between the two countries, through the statements of the French ambassador to Algeria, Xavier Driencourt, last April.

He explained that 10.000 Algerian illegal immigrants live in Paris after they did not respect the visa period that was granted to them, in addition to senior officials in the state who are receiving treatment in France as illegal immigrants and left debts behind them that reach 10.000 euros.

Algerians recently “protested” the decisions to reject their visa files by French consulates, including journalists, doctors and lawyers, even though they have previous visas that have expired.