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In March 2000, the latest report by the National Consultative Committee on Human Rights revealed a rise in racist attitudes and anti-immigrant feeling in France. The Prime Minister responded by announcing legislative changes to toughen up the fight against racial discrimination, some of which relate to employment.
On 15 March 2000, the National Consultative Committee on Human Rights (Commission nationale consultative des droits de l'homme, CNCDH) submitted its annual report on the fight against racism in France (issued every year since 1991) to Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. The CNCDH commissioned the Institut Louis Harris to measure the extent of racism in public opinion, using the same framework as in previous years. The report finds a "bleak" picture: more than six out of 10 French people say there are "too many foreigners in France"; 70% find "the presence in the country of people from outside Europe annoying"; and almost seven out of 10 say they are more or less racist. Only 29% of those polled felt that they were "not racist at all". Although the 1998 CNCDH survey showed a "softening" in opinion on issues around immigration, with society seeming to become more tolerant, the 1999 report indicates the opposite trend - a return to the levels recorded constantly between 1991 and 1996.
As stated above, more than 60% of those polled felt there were too many foreigners in France. First in the firing line of this type of intolerance are "arabs": 63% think "there are too many of them", a 12 point leap since 1998. The same is true to a lesser extent of opinions regarding black and Jewish people. Anti-semitism is also significantly on the rise. One-fifth of those questioned felt that "there are too many Jewish people in France", and 31% said that "Jewish people have too much power in France" (compared with 20% the previous year). The stance adopted by the French is hardening: 52% of them feel immigration is the main cause of crime; 71% think foreigners get preferential treatment in accessing public services; 52% feel immigrants get priority for housing; and almost three-quarters of those polled think immigrants make "little" or "no effort" to integrate. Paradoxically, the very people who confessed to being to some degree racist spoke out against racial discrimination: 81% thought not hiring a qualified foreigner for a job was "serious"; 69% felt the same way about refusing to rent accommodation; and 62% agreed that refusing entry to a nightclub to a foreigner was also "serious". Nevertheless, the majority of those interviewed were against any form of positive discrimination aimed at facilitating the transition of young people from immigrant backgrounds into the labour market. The most open-minded French people are young, employed graduates living in the larger cities, with unambiguously left-wing politics, highly mobilised with regard to anti-racism and the least proud of being French.
After being briefed on the CNCDH report on 18 March 2000, the Prime Minister announced steps to beef up the fight against racial discrimination during a "General Conference on Citizenship" (Assises de la citoyenneté) organised by the government. Among the announcements was that of a free helpline which will point young victims of discrimination "towards the department or association which is best placed to help them", while from now on it in court cases alleging discrimination, it will be the judge's task to "evaluate" discrimination and not the victim's obligation to prove it. Moreover, a "simplified and abridged" naturalisation procedure is to be established and a national agreement "will stipulate the funding criteria" used by the state to pay for young people who have no access to holidays to take them. Some 10,000 grants will be allocate to enable people to have access to high-level education programmes, and paid training courses will be offered to those preparing for the civil service entry exams. Lastly, 20% of jobs in the "youth employment" (emplois-jeunes) scheme will be set aside for young people from areas with large ethnic minority populations. A "welcome charter" for nightclubs will be signed by owners, together with voluntary organisations dealing with immigrants. The Prime Minister made it clear that the state was well aware of the extent of racial discrimination, an area hitherto mainly highlighted by trade unions and non profit-making organisations, but is still convinced that existing legislation is sufficient to combat racist actions (FR9906188F).