France, West Germany, and the Formation of a European Population Migration Regime, 1955–84

This paper compares the positions of the two largest countries of immigration in late 20^th century Europe, France and West Germany, on issues of population immigration, as they were revealed in negotiations towards a common European regime on this matter. The differences between France and West Germany are thus striking.

At first, the French government wanted to attract immigrants and their families to increase its population, whereas the West German government preferred attracting workers likely to stay only for a short period, leaving their families in the origin countries. These differences were correlated with the demographic density in each of the two countries and led to antagonism when France and West Germany acted to develop, in the framework of the Treaty of Rome, a common European regime in the area of population movements. The conflict concerned in particular the rules regarding the exportation of family allowances, which were considered fundamental for shaping family movements, as well the rules regarding the right of residence. From the 1970s, when France and West Germany both wanted to restrict population immigration and even encourage returns, they again favored different strategies regarding the appropriateness of return programs (more enthusiastically embraced by France than by West Germany) or arrangements for educating the children of migrant workers. For the French government, such arrangements would maintain a link between these children and their countries of origin, and thus, favor returns. Highlighting the common points and differences between the two countries, the paper shows how a European regime developed from there for European movements, on the one hand, and for non-European movements, on the other hand. It shows in particular how each of the two governments used its resources to define a European regime consistent with its preferences.