Summary:

On 4 November 2025, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu reaffirmed his government’s opposition to abolishing the 1968 Franco-Algerian Agreement, expressing instead the desire to renegotiate the agreement with Algiers. The 1968 agreement governs migration and residency rights for Algerian nationals in France, provisions that many in Paris now see as outdated.

Lecornu stated that the agreement has become “obsolete in many respects” and requires revision to reflect the mutual expectations of both countries.

His remarks came just days after the French National Assembly narrowly adopted a non-binding resolution tabled by the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) calling for the accord’s denunciation. The motion received support from the Les Républicains party and Horizons, founded by former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, marking the first parliamentary victory for Marine Le Pen’s party.

Lecornu emphasized that the treaty had already undergone three revisions and highlighted the need for a broader framework of cooperation encompassing migration, counterterrorism, maritime security, and economic relations. He tasked the Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Defense ministries with drafting a timetable for renewed dialogue with Algiers.

In response, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf described the issue as an internal French matter between the National Assembly and the government, noting that Algeria is not concerned at this stage. He added that it would only become relevant if it involved both governments, as the 1968 agreement is an intergovernmental treaty, and France has not officially informed Algeria of any change.

Outlook: 

While Paris’s renewed call for dialogue signals a pragmatic turn toward rebuilding ties, progress will depend on France’s ability to restore trust with Algiers through concrete diplomatic engagement. Discussions of renegotiating the agreement come as broader regional tensions over migration in Europe are high, and Franco-Algerian relations in particular have been tense, bordering on a diplomatic crisis.

Algeria’s cautious response underscores its reluctance to re-enter negotiations absent a formal démarche, reflecting broader fatigue with perceived French inconsistency. In the near term, any movement on the 1968 accord is likely to remain symbolic, as both sides prioritize managing domestic pressures and recalibrating their regional strategies amid ongoing instability in the Sahel.

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