Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Hezbollah condemns terrorist blasts carried out against worshippers in Pakistan.
NATO: Decision to deploy additional forces to address the current situation in Kosovo.
Al Mayadeen correspondent reports more than 50 people were injured when a bomb exploded in the Mastung area of the Pakistani province of Balochistan.
Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib: The assassinations were scheduled to be carried out on Saturday with the aim of stirring up national and sectarian strifes in the country
Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib: A series of attempts to assassinate a number of Sunni scholars, judges, and IRGC officers was thwarted
Twin shootings in Rotterdam led to multiple deaths: Dutch police
Dutch Police: Rotterdam shooter arrested
US imposes fresh Sudan-related sanctions: Treasury Department
Dutch Police: Two were wounded in a shooting in the city of Rotterdam, southwest of the country, and the attacker is still at large
Russia halts nuclear fuel exports to US over lack of insurance: Rosatom

France, UK sign new deal to thwart migrant Channel crossings

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Nov 2022 22:46
  • x

Particularly contentious issues have involved migration, with London accusing Paris of not doing enough to prevent migrants from crossing the Channel.

  • France and UK sign new deal to thwart migrant Channel crossings. Source:  Sameer Al-DOUMY.
    There is a backlog of asylum claims due to increasing numbers. (Sameer Al-DOUMY)

Under a new agreement signed on Monday, Britain agreed to pay France an additional 72.2 million euros ($74.5 million) to prevent migrant boat crossings in the English Channel.

This year, approximately 42,000 migrants have crossed the Channel from France to England.

The number is significantly higher than last year's figure of 28,561, which was a thousand-fold increase from 2018 when migrants and asylum seekers first began sailing inflatables across one of the world's busiest shipping channels.

"There are no quick fixes, but this new arrangement will mean we can significantly increase the number of French gendarmes patrolling the beaches in northern France," Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman said in a statement after signing the accord with her French counterpart Gerald Darmanin.

Read next: Sunak vows action on 'illegal migration' after Macron meeting

The additional funds will fund a 40% increase in the number of security forces patrolling France's northern beaches, amounting to an additional 100 people, according to the French Interior Ministry.

For the first time, teams of observers will be deployed on both sides of the Channel to "strengthen common understanding."

Related News

Dead, missing migrants in Mediterranean tripled this summer: UN

Italy approves decree facilitating migrant deportation process

"The arrangement means, for the first time, specialist UK officers will also be embedded with their French counterparts," the British Interior Ministry said.

Tensions over migrants

Several British governments have given France hundreds of millions of euros over the past ten years to enhance border security along the Channel coast, particularly in the area surrounding the port of Calais.

In the past, UK funds have been used to buy beach patrol SUVs, drones, motorcycles, and thermal imaging binoculars. However, rumors that Paris is not acting sufficiently have persisted in Britain, fuelled by members of the ruling Conservative party and the right-wing media.

The agreement reflects improved relations between France and the UK under British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which followed years of strained relations under Liz Truss and Boris Johnson. When 27 migrants drowned in the English Channel in November of last year, Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron got into one of their worst-ever public arguments.

The second meeting between Sunak and Macron will take place this week at the G20 in Indonesia after their amicable first encounter last week on the sidelines of the UN climate summit in Egypt.

Over the course of the past ten years, diplomatic relations throughout Europe have been strained by the issue of how to manage the influx of asylum seekers and economic migrants from Africa and the Middle East.

Following Rome's refusal to allow a rescue ship carrying migrants to dock at its Mediterranean ports, France and Italy—which recently elected a new far-right government—got into a fight last week.

After last week's standoff, which was resolved when France allowed the boat's passengers to disembark, Macron and his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella urged a return to "full cooperation" on Monday.

  • Migrant Crisis
  • Migrant channels
  • France
  • United Kingdom

Most Read

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

  • Europe
  • 23 Sep 2023
Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

  • Analysis
  • 24 Sep 2023
BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

  • Europe
  • 28 Sep 2023
Zelensky joins Canadian Parliament’s ovation to WWII Nazi soldier

Zelensky joins Canadian Parliament’s ovation to WWII Nazi soldier

  • US & Canada
  • 25 Sep 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
BBC to restrict top hosts' social media usage
Europe

BBC to restrict hosts' social media for chiding anti-migration remarks

Germany, 'Israel'
Europe

Germany signs 'historic' deal to acquire Israeli-made Arrow 3 system

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a media briefing at the State Department, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in Washington. (AP)
Europe

'Never say never': Blinken on Biden-Putin meeting in the future

Plastic found in clouds may contaminate everything we consume
US & Canada

Microplastics in clouds cause 'plastic rainfall', infect everything

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS