Emmanuel Macron’s most recent immigration bill, which has been highly criticised for its uncompromising stance on unwanted immigrants, is on the other hand, quite favourable for British citizens with second homes in France.
According to Politico, the amendment, approved last week as part of the immigration bill, allows British second home-owners to stay in France for more than 90 days as was initially agreed upon after Brexit.
The measure will enable expatriates to facilitate movement between the United Kingdom and France. Currently, British citizens are allowed to spend a maximum of 90 days within every 180 days in the country. Although long-term visas are available for those wishing to extend their stay, the administrative hurdles have discouraged many from pursuing this option.
Contrary to the general trend of the immigration bill, which mainly aims at limiting migration to France, the new amendment promises an automatic and streamlined process for delivering long-term visas to British citizens.
This move, in a bill characterized by stricter immigration rules, migration quotas, and tightened regulations for family visas, stands out. About a quarter of MPs from President Macron’s coalition either abstained or voted against the bill during the recent parliamentary session.
Conservative Senator Philippe Bas, speaking during Senate debates last month, argued for easing residency rules for Britons. He said that it would not serve as a migration “pull factor” since Brits generally are not interested in permanent stays in France.
Brexit isn’t their fault, but they have been punished by it. Let them enjoy their second homes and spend their money in France.
However, other senators, such as the socialist Senator Corinne Narassiguin, expressed scepticism. She criticised the proposal, submitted by the conservatives, saying that for her Les Républicains colleagues, there are good and bad foreigners, indicating that the other party does not apply a fair approach to migrants from different countries.
The amendment’s fate now rests with France’s Constitutional Court, which has yet to examine the bill before its final enactment. The unexpected concession for British second home-owners has sparked debates about the fairness of immigration policies and the government’s willingness to address the concerns of specific expatriate communities.
While some applaud the move as a practical response to Brexit’s unintended consequences, critics argue that it reveals inconsistencies within the immigration bill. On the other hand, this bill limits fundamental rights such as access to state healthcare and deports migrants with criminal records.
