Wednesday 27 April 2011

Cherchez la Droite

Many Tunisians have arrived in France having crossed the Mediterranean in boats sans papiers. They are "determined" to work; to stay permanently; and to raise families. (BBC Radio 4, World at One.) Since they are all young men they will compete with Frenchmen for wives. (By contrast, the "rush" by young men from the Commonwealth to enter the UK in the first half of 1962 before the Commonwealth Immigrants Act came into force at least - for the most part - did so avec papiers.)
It is not right that these Tunisians succeed while some of their law-abiding countrymen adhere to procedures, apply for a Shengen visa, but are refused one.
It would be right for a Frenchman to complain to the European Commission of Human Rights that these young men be deported back to their own country.
However, there is no chance of the ECHR investigating such a complaint, because it only investigates complaints from people who are personally subject to a decision by a public body.
This is a systemic bias - a procedural imbalance - , i.e. not equal.