Title IV: WAITING AREA

Associations’ access to the holding area must not interfere with the operation of the holding area and the activities carried out there by government departments, transport companies and infrastructure operators.It is exercised with respect for the political, philosophical or religious opinions of the foreign nationals held.

The competent administrative authority shall draw up a list of associations authorised to propose representatives for access to the waiting area under the conditions laid down in this section.Authorisation may only be requested by associations that have been duly registered for at least five years and whose articles of association propose aid and assistance to foreign nationals, the defence of human rights or medical or social assistance.

Access to the waiting area for representatives of approved associations is subject to individual approval granted for a period of three years by the competent administrative authority.This approval, which is renewable, may be granted to ten persons per association. This approval, which is renewable, may be granted to ten persons per association. It entails the issue of a name card enabling access to the waiting area to be authorised on…

The competent administrative authority may authorise any additional visit on the basis of a written, reasoned request from the president of an authorised association or any authorised member of the association.

The administrative authority referred to in articles R. 343-19, R. 343-20 and R. 343-21 is the Minister responsible for immigration.

Authorised representatives of an association may talk to the head of border control and, where they are present, to agents of the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons and agents of the French Office for Immigration and Integration responsible for humanitarian assistance.They may speak confidentially with persons held in this zone.While in the waiting zone, approved representatives of an authorised association are accompanied by a border…

An annual meeting is organised on the operation of the waiting areas, at the initiative of the Minister responsible for immigration, with the presidents of the authorised associations, their approved representatives and the State departments concerned. The minutes of this meeting, drawn up jointly, are made public.