French university chiefs relieved as immigration measures axed

But damage is already done to France’s reputation, say presidents

French university leaders have reacted with relief after the Constitutional Council struck down all the measures pertaining to higher education and research in controversial legislation focused on reducing immigration.

The Control Immigration and Improve Integration law was passed on 26 January, but only after 32 of its 86 articles—including those mandating fee hikes for PhD non-EU students and quotas defining the maximum number of non-EU students on courses—had been drastically amended or removed altogether by the court.