Édouard Philippe: After Ceuta, France and Europe Must Reject Migratory Powerlessness

Former French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe has called for a decisive response to migration challenges, stating that France and Europe must reject "migratory powerlessness" in the wake of the Ceuta incident.

Philippe, a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, argues that the events in Ceuta serve as a stark warning of a more volatile world where migration flows can rapidly become instruments of destabilization. He firmly rejects two prevailing approaches to immigration debates: either denying the problem for fear of political incorrectness, or seeking control through isolation and the dismantling of European instruments.

"I will not yield to either of the dead ends that undermine the debate on immigration: denying the problem in the name of political correctness, or pretending to regain control by isolating ourselves from our neighbors and ending European instruments," Philippe wrote in an exclusive op-ed for Le Figaro.

He emphasizes the need for lucidity and collective will, both within France and across Europe. Philippe asserts the right to choose who enters French territory for work, study, or legitimate asylum, acknowledging the need for labor immigration. Simultaneously, he stresses the duty to deport those who do not intend to stay, disrespect French rules, or reject its values. He believes achieving this requires a clear-eyed approach rather than resorting to outdated far-right rhetoric.