Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, a declared candidate for the 2027 presidential election, stated on August 30, 2026, on BFMTV that he was "favorable à la dénonciation du traité de 1968 entre la France et l’Algérie" (favorable to the denunciation of the 1968 treaty between France and Algeria). Philippe's remarks echo a discourse often heard from the far-right and parts of the republican right, a position he had also expressed the previous year. Despite his current stance, Philippe served as Prime Minister for over three years without initiating any review or denunciation of the 1968 agreement.
The article contends that the 1968 Franco-Algerian Agreement is not the most advantageous bilateral immigration agreement France has signed. This agreement, which was ratified six and a half years after Algeria gained independence, has undergone significant revisions through three addenda. These amendments have substantially reduced its original scope, making its terms comparable to, or potentially less advantageous than, other bilateral agreements France holds with various nations.
Debunking the Exorbitant Claims
Article 7 of the Declaration of the Evian Accords, signed on March 19, 1962, stipulated that Algerian nationals residing in France would possess the same rights as French citizens, with the exception of political rights. Unlike other bilateral agreements that typically refer to common law for matters not specifically addressed or when common law is more favorable, the Franco-Algerian agreement exclusively concerns Algerian nationals and operates as a standalone legal framework, a position confirmed by the Conseil d’Etat. While many bilateral agreements remain largely unknown to the public, politicians, or media, the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreement has frequently drawn public attention, leading to numerous "expert" opinions on its provisions.
The article refutes several claims made in the exposé des motifs of the NDR party's resolution, which sought to denounce the agreement. Contrary to these claims, Algerian spouses of French citizens are not uniquely granted a residence permit solely with a visa, as similar provisions exist in other agreements. The assertion that Algerian spouses receive a 10-year permit after one year of marriage while others require three years is inaccurate, as the Tunisian agreement also provides for a shorter period. The article also challenges the claim that only Algerian nationals are regularized after 10 years of irregular status, noting that the Tunisian agreement includes this provision and it was previously applicable to all foreign nationals.
Assertions that family reunification conditions for Algerians are more advantageous than for other nationalities are also deemed false, as such conditions are rooted in common law principles and are stipulated in agreements with Tunisia, Morocco, and various sub-Saharan countries. The claim that no integration or insertion requirements exist for family members of Algerian nationals is incorrect, as the same requirements apply, and in some cases, even more stringent ones. Similarly, the notion that Algerian nationals are exempt from signing a republican integration contract is false, as no permit is issued without its signature. The article also dismisses the idea that Algerian nationals benefit from "very extensive" freedom to exercise a professional activity, clarifying that no special derogation has existed since the abandonment of the Evian Agreements and the implementation of three successive addenda.
Regarding demographic figures, the article refutes the claim that Algerian nationals number over 2.5 million, a figure that includes children and grandchildren born in France and individuals with dual nationality. The figure of over 680,000 residence permits allegedly issued to Algerians in 2023 is also dismissed as disinformation. Overall, total immigration into France, including individuals from European countries, constitutes less than 10% of the French population.
Evolution and Amendments of the Agreement
The 1968 Franco-Algerian Agreement has undergone several significant revisions since its inception. The 2nd Addendum, implemented in 1994, introduced provisions that disadvantaged Algerians, prompting the French government to propose negotiations aimed at aligning their status with common law. The 3rd Addendum, which came into effect on January 1, 2002, following its signing on November 7, 2001, currently remains the operative text.
The 3rd Addendum marked a notable change by introducing, for the first time since Algeria's independence, the automatic issuance of a "parent of a French child" residence certificate, a provision previously unavailable to Algerian nationals. Conversely, this addendum suppressed the ability for Algerian students to work without prior authorization and full-time. It also maintained the obligation for Algerian nationals to obtain a long-stay visa, a requirement first introduced in 1994, thereby signaling the end of the special regime and moving towards alignment with common law immigration rules. The 3rd Addendum did not reinstate the regularization process for young adults who entered France before the age of 10, a threshold that remains at 13 years for common law.
The Conseil d’Etat has confirmed the application of a specific provision regarding "retired" permits, which are issued exclusively to Algerians who previously held a 10-year residence certificate. This particular title was only implemented late in 1986. Within the broader Maghrebian population in France, which totals 3.3 million individuals, Tunisians account for 316,000. For comparison, total immigration in Germany stands at 20% of its population. Under the Franco-Tunisian agreement, a Tunisian national holding a work accident or occupational disease annuity from a French organization, with a permanent disability rate of 20% or more, is automatically issued a ten-year residence card.
Comparison with Other Bilateral Agreements
France maintains 11 agreements focused on youth and professional mobility with what are described as "rich" countries. Additionally, there are 14 "vacances travail" (working holiday) agreements, also established with "rich" countries. Beyond these, specific agreements on professional migration exist with Russia and Georgia. France also holds a bilateral agreement with Morocco concerning immigration matters.
A significant agreement is in place with Tunisia, initially signed on March 17, 1988, and subsequently modified by an addendum on September 8, 2000, and a protocol on concerted migration management signed in Tunis on April 28, 2008. Between 2006 and 2008, France also established "concerted migration flow management agreements" with several African nations, including Senegal, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Cape Verde, and Mauritius.
The Franco-Tunisian agreement of March 17, 1988, as modified, grants specific rights to Tunisian nationals. Under this agreement, family members of Tunisians admitted to reside in France through family reunification are issued a residence permit for the same duration as the person they are joining. The agreement also stipulates that a one-year "private and family life" residence permit is automatically issued, subject to public order, to Tunisian nationals who are minors or within one year of turning 18, provided at least one parent holds a residence permit and they entered under family reunification.
The Franco-Tunisian agreement provides for the automatic issuance of a ten-year card, subject to public order, to a Tunisian spouse of a French national married for at least one year, given that community of life is maintained and the marriage is registered in French civil status records. A ten-year card is also automatically issued to the Tunisian child of a French national if they are under 21 or dependent on their parents. Lastly, a Tunisian national who is the parent of a French child residing in France will automatically receive a ten-year card, provided they exercise parental authority or effectively support the child.
Statistical Context and Public Perception
The article indicates that Algerian, Moroccan, and Tunisian immigration each constitute approximately 2% of their respective origin countries' populations. Total Maghrebi immigration represents 4.8% of the French population. Citing INSEE figures, the article states there is no "submersive Algerian wave." INSEE data shows 6,964,000 foreigners in France, with 2.1 million being Europeans, 1.3 million Sub-Saharan Africans, and 1.6 million from the rest of the world. Among the 3.3 million Maghrebians in France, 887,000 are Algerians and 835,000 are Moroccans.
