French Arrogance

Published on July 22, 2004 By CS Guy In Current Events

French arrogance surfaces again. The following notice was found on the front door of the French Consulate in New York City.

"Visas for France are not a right. Persons applying for visas are requested to show due respect for Consular personnel. Failure to do so will result in the denial of the application and denied entry into any of the EU countries."

So it seems that France is speaking for the entire European Union these days. I certainly think that people should show the proper respect for Consular personnel, but shouldn't the other nations in the EU have the right to decide whether rudeness to the French deserves a banning of entry into their country?

Andre Sirois is a lawyer at the United Nations specializing in international law. Mr. Sirois claims no knowledge of any law that gives one European Union nation the power that France is assuming with this notice. He further says, “This is very rude, undiplomatic and probably illegal. ... Actually, it could cause a good rift between France and those [European] countries who have probably not delegated their visa authority to the French government.”

Comments (Page 1)

Gene Nash

on Jul 22, 2004

So it seems that France is speaking for the entire European Union these days.

I think becoming head of the "United States of Europe" has always been their intent. It's not surprising that a country characterized by arrogance would see nothing wrong with indicating their repugnant goal so publicly.

dharmagrl

on Jul 22, 2004

It's not surprising that a country characterized by arrogance would see nothing wrong with indicating their repugnant goal so publicly.

You took the words right out of my mouth...

Yellow Sign

on Jul 23, 2004

Well, talking about Visas... and rudeness... it works both ways.
Every time I visit the US, I (and every other german travelling to the US) have to fill out a declaration that I didn't perform any cruelities during WWII, that I didn't take part in the crimes of the Nazi regime etc.
I think this is rather embarassing.

Especially because I was born in 1979.

messybuu

on Jul 23, 2004

That's weird, but I don't think it's on the same level as French's actions. It would be like the U.S. denying people entry to Canada, Mexico, or other American nations.

Yellow Sign

on Jul 23, 2004

Good point, you're correct.
Let's just say it's rude and weird in another way. Maybe the French could learn from it and start asking you wether you killed any native americans every time you travel to France.

cactoblasta

on Jul 23, 2004

It would be like the U.S. denying people entry to Canada, Mexico, or other American nations.

Not quite - the NAFTA countries don't have quite the same close ties as the EU countries - they share no common currency, nor, more importantly, do they share their visas - a visa into Mexico will never allow passage into the US without another visa, but one into Europe will often apply to the whole region.

Manopeace

on Jul 23, 2004

France is the only country I ever visited where I felt totally unwelcome. Upon arrival at the airport in Paris, which they refer to as an "international Airport" there was not a sign in any language other than French. If I hadnt lived in Canada for a number of years I would never know that "sortie" meant exit...and I would probably still be wandering the hallways there looking for a way out. The shopkeepers in Paris were arrogant and unfriendly, totally refusing to try to understand what I was trying to say.
I cut my visit short after 3 days... I was intending to spend 2 weeks there but found it most uncomfortable.

Manopeace

on Jul 23, 2004

forgot to add...in the airport in London, the exit says Way Out!

CS Guy

on Jul 23, 2004

France is the only country I ever visited where I felt totally unwelcome.

Same here. I have hated the time I have had to spend in Paris. Give me Lucerne or Munich any day.

dharmagrl

on Jul 23, 2004

France is the only country I ever visited where I felt totally unwelcome.

Please don't base your entire opinion of France and the French on one city. That's like basing your opinion of the US on one visit to the zoo that is New York or LA.

I spent a lot of time in France growing up, and I've always felt welcome there. I spent time in Aix En Provence, Marseilles, Nice, Dieppe, Calais and Paris...and whilst I totally understand your feeling about Parisians I'm telling you that the rest of the country isn't like that. They're arrogant, yes, but no more so than the Germans.

citahellion

on Jul 23, 2004

I love Paris. Been there 3 times, totaling about a month. But I speak a little French, and I was never too concerned with meeting people. The Metro is awesome, the architecture is wonderful, the history is palpable.

Solitair

on Jul 26, 2004

It's a sign on a consular in one city!

Probably written by a single person who was getting upset at being poorly treated. What's the problem? Would other EU countries have a problem if the French officially took the view that they could ban entry to other countries? Yes! Is this the case here? No!

And as a matter of interest, someone who has had a visa application refused in 1 European country is logged onto a database for the other coutries to be aware of this refusal and the reasons. This will indeed most likely result in an application refusal, assuming the initial reasons for refusal are valid,

Paul.

messybuu

on Jul 26, 2004

So France doesn't condone the sign?

Solitair

on Jul 27, 2004

France has not commented on the sign.

Not much of a surprise really, as I wouldn't expect a nation to comment on a single sign that is not part of official policy.

Indeed until this post I hadn't even heard of it, which says a lot about how the Europeans neighbours view the importance of it. It's a single sign, not an indication of French arrogance. Storm in a teacup.

Paul.

kingbee

on Jul 27, 2004

despite smattering of jeers, it appeared to me as if lance armstrong was welcomed warmly as he entered paris at the end of the tour de france. i gotta wonder if our citizens would be as gracious if the situation were reversed and a french athlete took the championship of an 'american' sport 6 years in a row.

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