Amendment n°000042, tabled in the early hours of 23 October by MP Karim Benbrahim during the 2026 Budget debate, seeks to reallocate €20 million to beef up French-language courses for migrants. The proponents argue that the 2024 Immigration Act’s new B1-level requirement for multi-year residence permits cannot succeed without adequate teaching capacity.
Under the plan, funding would expand OFII-contracted classes and subsidise e-learning licences for rural areas where in-person providers are scarce. Employers that sponsor staff on Talent Passports could apply for co-financing to cover intensive workplace French.
The amendment resonates with multinationals facing talent shortages in engineering and healthcare, where language barriers slow integration. Deloitte France estimates that each six-month delay in reaching operational proficiency costs firms an average €12,000 in productivity losses per assignee.
However, the Finance Ministry cautions that the amendment is unfunded and would breach the 3 % EU deficit ceiling unless offset elsewhere. Debate is scheduled for 6 November.
Under the plan, funding would expand OFII-contracted classes and subsidise e-learning licences for rural areas where in-person providers are scarce. Employers that sponsor staff on Talent Passports could apply for co-financing to cover intensive workplace French.
The amendment resonates with multinationals facing talent shortages in engineering and healthcare, where language barriers slow integration. Deloitte France estimates that each six-month delay in reaching operational proficiency costs firms an average €12,000 in productivity losses per assignee.
However, the Finance Ministry cautions that the amendment is unfunded and would breach the 3 % EU deficit ceiling unless offset elsewhere. Debate is scheduled for 6 November.
