Alexandre Chauveau
modified to
8:32 a.m., November 18, 2022
The Ministry of the Interior has identified nearly 1,500 associations which help migrants from their arrival until their administrative journey. But a paradox exists since these associations, for some, are criticized by the government, while it is the state that mandates them to intervene.
The Ocean Viking affair has shed light on the role of the associations that come to their aid. The Ministry of the Interior lists nearly 1,500, who live mainly on donations and public subsidies. These help migrants upon their arrival, provide them with food and accompany them on their administrative journey. These associations are also directly mandated by the State to take care of these migrants.
Public service missions
These associations thus respond to calls for public projects and sign agreements that allow them to carry out some of the missions of the State. This is the case, for example, of France Terre d’Asile, with the arrival of Afghans in the summer of 2021, or Civil Protection in Grande-Synthe. These associations carry out missions considered to be of public service and receive subsidies as such. The 2023 finance bill thus provides for 736 million euros allocated by the State to these organizations responsible for asylum and integration.
The City of Paris votes a grant of 100,000 euros to SOS Méditerranée
The City of Paris notably voted this week for a grant of 100,000 euros to SOS Méditerranée, the NGO that owns the Ocean Viking. Funding that irritates some opponents of these associations. Accused by part of the political class of favoring illegal immigration. This calls for a welcome policy and relies on the rule of law to encourage the arrival of migrants, even if it means condemning the State.
The prefectures of Alpes-Maritimes and Pas-de-Calais have thus been sentenced, one for violating freedoms, the other for illegally closing a migrant camp.