The “new beginning” of relations between the UK and France, celebrated yesterday at the first summit between the two countries’ leaders since 2018, includes an increase in payments from London to Paris to curb illegal immigration in the English Channel to help curb. The British will pay €541 million to the French over the next three years to enable the opening of a “new detention center” and the mobilization of more “500 agents” from the security forces to patrol French beaches. According to the United Kingdom, France will contribute considerably more to the implementation of this new migration agreement.
“It is a moment of reunion, reconnection and restart”, French President Emmanuel Macron told a press conference at the Élysée Palace after a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. “It is the pinnacle of new ambition,” he added. “If we are honest, the relationship between our two countries has had problems in recent years,” admitted Sunak, speaking of “a new beginning and a Entente renewed”, in a reference to “cordially– the agreements signed more than a century ago marking the relationship between the two countries, which deteriorated with Brexit.
The relationship between Sunak and Macron, two former investment bankers, is very different from the relationship the French president had with previous Downing Street tenants: Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. There were discussions with the first because of Brexit or, for example, fishing rights in the Channel. The latter went so far as to say in the campaign for the Conservative leadership that he didn’t know whether to consider Macron a friend or an enemy. There is no such doubt with Sunak.
“Near Neighbors. Good Friends. Historical Allies”, the British Prime Minister wrote on Twitter, posting a photo of Macron welcoming him at the entrance to the Élysée. A new post at the end of the day with more photos: “From our new energy partnership to tackling illegal migration, the UK and France look forward to the future – united by the bonds of family, friendship and solidarity.” Sunak also thanked the French president for the “friendly welcome” and was “eager to see” what they can achieve together.
One of the concrete decisions that will emerge from the summit is precisely the strengthening of cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration, which Sunak has made one of the flags of the government – after presenting a new bill aimed at detaining and deporting migrants arriving in small boats on British shores, effectively depriving them of their right to asylum, critics say.
London and Paris had already signed an agreement last year to strengthen patrols on the French side, which provided for a payment from the British of some 71 million euros this year alone. The new agreement almost doubles that amount, to €141 million in 2023-2024 alonerising to 191 million in 2024-2025 and 209 million in 2025 and 2026. With this investment, London hopes to put a brake on arrivals: 45 thousand last year alone and an expected 60 thousand this year, if nothing changes.
On defense, the United Kingdom and France reiterated their support for Ukraine. “Our shared and continued support for Ukraine remains unwavering. We will continue to provide that support for as long as it takes,” said British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, one of those who traveled to Paris with Sunak. In the field of energy, the agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in the nuclear field, with the desire of both countries to turn their backs on fossil fuels, and to strengthen electrical interconnections.
Source: DN
