Migrants’ Access to Social Protection in France

After a long judicial fight between the 1970s and the late 1990s leading to the abolition of the condition of nationality that excluded foreigners from non-contributory benefits, and in a context of publicly debated restrictive immigration policies, other restrictive conditions were either reinforced or introduced in order to curb access to social protection for foreigners in France. A new condition of regularity for the access of foreigners to most social protection schemes was introduced and/or extended, especially since 1993. In a growing xenophobic context, restrictions were presented as a means to deter immigration and save the Welfare State placed under strong budgetary constraints. The classical condition of residence was also reactivated in a way to place more restrictions. New requirements, such as a condition of anteriority of presence and a condition of anteriority (seniority) of regular residence, were developed to exclude more non-EU migrants, despite their regular situation.