Communiqué from university presidents on the immigration bill

December 19, 2023

We, the presidents of universities and higher education and research establishments, take note of the measures of the immigration bill resulting from the joint committee and which will be put to the vote of the Senate and the National Assembly at the end of the day.

Following the deep concern that was already ours at the end of the parliamentary debates, as expressed by France Universités in a communiqué issued on Sunday December 17, we deplore the fact that the version proposed at this time attacks the values on which the French University is founded: those of universalism, openness and welcome, the free and fruitful circulation of knowledge, those of the spirit of the Enlightenment.

At a time when higher education establishments are being asked to strengthen their ambitions for the influence of research, how can we accept measures that will tend to turn the French university in on itself, when our students and researchers are taking part in the production and dissemination of academic and cultural values and knowledge beyond our borders?

Access to knowledge and training cannot be hindered by such restrictive and unfounded financial considerations, such as the introduction of a return guarantee or a limitation on social assistance. International students are a source of wealth for our country, and contribute to the dynamism of our academic community.

In addition, applying the increased tuition fees for non-EU students across the board, with no possibility of exemption, would have a particularly deleterious effect on the number, geographical origin and social situation of students able to study in France.

These measures, unworthy of our country, seriously jeopardize the attractiveness of French higher education and research, and undermine our ambition to make France a major player in international scientific and cultural diplomacy.

For all these reasons, we collectively reaffirm our firm and determined opposition to this set of measures.

The first signatories

Annick Allaigre - President of Université Paris 8 Vincennes - Saint Denis
Carine Bernault - President of Nantes Université
Éric Berton - President of Aix-Marseille Université
Jeanick Brisswalter - President, Université Côte d'Azur
Michel Deneken - President, Université de Strasbourg
Nathalie Dompnier - President, Université Lyon 2 Lumière
Nathalie Drach-Temam - President, Sorbonne Université
Frédéric Fleury - President, Université Claude Bernard - Lyon 1
Christophe Fouqueré - President, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord
Alain Fuchs - President, Université PSL - Paris Sciences et Lettres
Emmanuelle Garnier - President, Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès
Philippe Gervais-Lambony - President, Université Paris Nanterre
Jean-François Huchet - President, Inalco
Estelle Iacona - President, Université Paris Saclay
Édouard Kaminski - President, Université Paris Cité
Dean Lewis - President, Université de Bordeaux
Daniel Mouchard - President, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle
Christine Neau-Leduc - President, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne