France and the United Kingdom announced this Friday in a joint press release that they had made “progress” in the search for a new agreement on illegal immigration.
Meeting in Paris for the Armistice commemorations, Foreign Ministers Catherine Colonna and James Cleverly said it was “urgent to address all forms of illegal immigration, including improvised boat crossings, and address their causes.” fundamental”.
“They welcomed the progress towards an important new agreement between France and the United Kingdom and, in this context, the conclusion of a series of ambitious measures as soon as possible”, continues this text.
An “important agreement” after years of quarrel
After years of bickering, especially when Boris Johnson and then Liz Truss, more briefly, were prime ministers, the UK and France hope to restore their relations under the aegis of Rishi Sunak, the new head of the British government, who replaced Liz Truss. . .
The “important deal” mentioned in the joint press release is indicative of this improved Franco-British relationship.
The United Kingdom would be willing to pay an additional 80 million pounds (91 million euros) to France for police reinforcements on French beaches, while British agents would have access to French control centers.
“We all want the situation to be resolved as soon as possible,” Rishi Sunak said Monday from Sharm el-Sheikh, where after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of COP27, he said he wanted to “cooperate closely” with France. about immigration.
Almost 40,000 people tried to cross in 2022
Nearly 40,000 people have already risked their lives crossing the English Channel illegally in small boats since the beginning of the year, a record.
The UK government is under pressure over its handling of the influx of migrants, with recent revelations of an overcrowded reception center and the launching of incendiary devices at another center near Dover.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman also sparked controversy when she recently called the influx of migrants arriving in the UK in Parliament an “invasion”.
Source: BFM TV
