Viewed in isolation the image is misleading

Viewed in isolation, the image is misleading. Placed in the European family album, it is more accurate. Evictions of Roma last summer, the resurgence in popularity of Marine Le Pen, the possibility given to juries of Assizes to expel convicted aliens: quickly analyzed as the marks of a xenophobic drift, these French tensions are low compared to the identity, more radical movements across Europe. Symptomatic is the fact that the Union European is chaired since 1 January, by the Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor Orbàn practice a nationalism offensive, heavy provocation territorial for the Slovak neighbour, whose Hungarian minorities are offered by Budapest Hungarian passport. It feeds also against the ethnic pressure including the Roma.

"The Hungary was very badly digested that discussion of the Christian roots of Europe", analysis Laurent Wauquiez, Minister delegate for European Affairs. However, if the territorial disputes remain dominant in the East, Western Europe, it is the religious question, with the establishment of islam, which is the common denominator of identity tensions. This engine is so powerful that it pushes countries traditionally open to migration flows to question their model home and integration: the Netherlands, where the party for freedom of Geert Wilders became the third parliamentary force, the Germany, where, after having played in the crisis feeling Greek, Angela Merkel is queried on multiculturalism.

More to the North, in Finland (at four months of the legislation) and Sweden (which she had no freedom of the city), xenophobia is progressing in the polls of opinion and voting intentions. In the heart of the European continent, the evolution of the Switzerland is not the less significant, because, says an expert Brussels, this country is often a "leading indicator" of immigration policies. One year after the referendum "anti-minarets", the Swiss voted late November, the expulsion from the territory of foreign offenders.

It is not accidental that this wave of identity folds, sometimes xenophobic in Europe be thrown for two years. For Laurent Wauquiez, "the crisis has awakened identity fears." "Difficult economic and financial environment makes people more cautious about the arrival of migrants, while the attitude towards illegal immigration hardens", complete Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner responsible for internal affairs. Point, also, the responsibility of rulers: "often the lack of political leadership opens the door to the populist approaches to immigration". Extremists are fertile ground there where national politicians do not open a true debate and do not give concrete answers to problems such as the integration of migrants and the management of illegal immigration.

In the meantime, it is not only the speech on immigration, but practices that is shifting in Europe, with, in perspective, the return of the spectre of "fortress Europe". The effective hardening of migration policy is not the preserve of the United Kingdom or the Netherlands, whose new conservative-liberal coalition governments committed themselves to dramatically reduce migration flows. The number of residence permits granted in the EU in 2009 (2.3 million) fell by 9.

In a space where each Member State remains master of his policy of foreigners, the Brussels Commission is reduced to act by a way roundabout, to promote the free movement of workers who are non-nationals of the Union. Because argues Cecilia Malmström, "Europe needs regular immigration and it will be increasingly necessary in the future because of unfavourable demographic trends". Depends on the future of many trades of service to the person, but also highly technological activities already in lack of researchers and engineers. "Close the doors is not in our interest", assured the European Commissioner.

This is not the way that borrows the France to the European wave against. The crisis does not appear to have shaped the choice of a "chosen" and "concerted" with, now, some 15 immigration countries of emigration. The decline in the number of titles of stays was barely perceptible in 2009 (-3), to 175.000 - 75 higher than that of the Germany. And, on the first eleven months of 2010, 182,000 titles have already been granted, either as well as on the whole of the year 2008. Prominent sign of opening, the reception of foreign students is for many.

Only in France, the image of the immigration policy is mainly given by the line, more restrictive, followed by right of asylum (Brice Hortefeux, Minister of the Interior, is limited to the "real dissidents") and deportation of illegal immigrants.

Adopted by Parliament in early October, whereas in the Senate in early February, the Bill of 32 to 45 days the detention of foreigners pending expulsion - the time required for the issuance of a pass - by country of origin - is however French legislation making one of the most severe. A year ago, the Spain brought the term to 60 days, as to the Portugal. It can reach eighteen months in Germany.

For Gérard Longuet, President of the UMP in the Senate group, "when one looks at migration practices in other European cities, Paris has really not complex to have". Brice Hortefeux, he happily reports this anecdote: in the European Pact on immigration and asylum adopted at the initiative of the France in 2008, it is the Spanish Socialist Government who requested, and obtained, that "foreigners in an irregular situation in the territory of a Member State" did not only "vocation to" but "duty of" leave that territory.