On Tuesday 20 June, MPs voted to establish an ‘operational reserve’ for customs to support customs officers. This decision has raised serious concerns among members of the left, who instead advocate an increase in membership. This measure is included in an article of the government bill to reform French customs, which is currently being debated in the Assembly, after being adopted in the Senate on Tuesday evening, by 155 votes against 23.
It provides for the creation of a reserve supplemented by “retired” and “volunteer” customs officers, who must have French nationality and be between 18 and 67 years old. The Minister of Accounts, Gabriel Attal, sees it as a “major step”, which will allow, for example, to support customs officers for exceptional events – he notably cited the 2024 Olympic Games. But the left-wing deputies, who have voted against, see it as a “patch”.
“You are creating reservists for lack of creating an additional number of customs officers”, scolded the chairman of the Finance Committee, Éric Coquerel (LFI), who is also worried about the “four weeks” of initial training planned for reservists in the impact study of the text, against “12 months” for a customs officer.
Another point raised was that reservists who “participate in missions that put them at risk of aggression” may “be permitted to carry a weapon”. A decree in Council of State must specify the conditions of the port, but the left sees there a sign that these reservists will ensure missions of customs officers in post.
“They will always be under the authority of a permanent customs officer,” repeated the minister, for whom these reservists are not intended to “replace them in missions which are essential and which can be dangerous”. “In the same way as for the police or the gendarmerie, the carrying of weapons will be supervised” and “not authorized for all”, abounded the rapporteur Renaissance, Nadia Hai.
Rights to advancement to leave and social benefits, acquired during the reserve periods, are secured by the text. A MoDem amendment has added a ban on reducing, or canceling, an annual bonus due to reservist activity. The rapporteur and the minister warned against the risk of “disincentives”, even litigation, but the amendment was adopted.
The debates were very tense with a proposal from the deputy RN Gisèle Lelouis, finally rejected. His amendment intended to exclude dual nationals from this reserve, to “limit infiltration and possible conflicts of interest”. “Other countries make these restrictions logical,” she said.
“Are you thinking of Franco-Belgian, Franco-Spanish, Franco-Italian reservists? “, sharply quipped Nadia Hai, denouncing “an amendment of shame”. “Chase the natural, it comes back at a gallop”, launched Gabriel Attal. Deputies from the presidential camp and from the left denounced a “racist” amendment. RN and the presidential camp exchanged reminders of the rules, accusing each other of invective.
MEPs then adopted an article on the investigative powers of certain authorized customs officers, and in particular the possibility for them to use microphones and cameras. The wording of the article worries some opposition MPs, who see it as possible attacks on public freedoms.
“There are already recordings of customs images and sounds for intelligence purposes”, but “they cannot be used as procedural documents”, insisted the minister. “The only thing this section provides is that information can be used as pleadings. »