Meeting in Strasbourg on 10 December 2025, the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly agreed to examine amendments that would narrow long-standing migrant-rights safeguards encoded in the European Convention on Human Rights. Twenty-seven member states signed a joint declaration urging limits on protections for asylum-seekers who commit serious crimes or pose security risks—a direct response, signatories say, to rising far-right pressure and recent incidents in France and Germany.
Although the Council of Europe is distinct from the EU, its norms underpin many French judicial decisions on deportations and family-reunification refusals. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin welcomed the debate, arguing that “our legal toolkit must reflect the realities of 2025, not 1945.” Human-rights groups, including France’s Ligue des droits de l’Homme, warned that the initiative risks eroding the principle of non-refoulement and could embolden states to strip residency from long-settled migrants.
![Council of Europe Opens Debate in Strasbourg on Curtailing Post-War Migrant Protections]()
For individuals and employers trying to navigate these shifting requirements, VisaHQ offers a convenient, real-time resource. Its France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) aggregates the latest legislative changes, tracks visa eligibility updates, and streamlines application or renewal processes—helping travellers and HR teams stay compliant even as rules evolve.
If the reform proceeds, the Council could empower governments to re-introduce visas or expel residents more swiftly in cases involving national-security concerns. Corporate mobility specialists fear a patchwork of interpretations across Europe, complicating assignment planning for third-country nationals whose family links span multiple jurisdictions.
Next steps include committee hearings in January and a plenary vote slated for April 2026. For now, companies should monitor the debate and review contingency options for employees holding subsidiary-protection status in France or neighbouring countries.
Although the Council of Europe is distinct from the EU, its norms underpin many French judicial decisions on deportations and family-reunification refusals. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin welcomed the debate, arguing that “our legal toolkit must reflect the realities of 2025, not 1945.” Human-rights groups, including France’s Ligue des droits de l’Homme, warned that the initiative risks eroding the principle of non-refoulement and could embolden states to strip residency from long-settled migrants.
For individuals and employers trying to navigate these shifting requirements, VisaHQ offers a convenient, real-time resource. Its France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) aggregates the latest legislative changes, tracks visa eligibility updates, and streamlines application or renewal processes—helping travellers and HR teams stay compliant even as rules evolve.
If the reform proceeds, the Council could empower governments to re-introduce visas or expel residents more swiftly in cases involving national-security concerns. Corporate mobility specialists fear a patchwork of interpretations across Europe, complicating assignment planning for third-country nationals whose family links span multiple jurisdictions.
Next steps include committee hearings in January and a plenary vote slated for April 2026. For now, companies should monitor the debate and review contingency options for employees holding subsidiary-protection status in France or neighbouring countries.
