France joins UK in controversial 'asylum ban' draft bill talks

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Mar 19:43
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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to arrive in Paris on Friday to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron after five years of tense relations.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak greets French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a bilateral meeting during the COP27 summit, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Monday, November 7, 2022. (AP)

A new deal aimed at blocking migrants from crossing the Channel between France and the UK could be agreed on between the leaders of the two countries during a summit set to take place, according to a French official, later this week.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives in Paris on Friday where he will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron for the first summit between the two countries in about five years.

At the core of the summit will be the topic of the Channel migrants and how to prevent such crossings.

A Macron aide, on Wednesday, told reporters, "We are in the process of finalizing the terms of a strengthening of our operational cooperation."

The aide who preferred to remain anonymous explained that "increasing the resources deployed to manage this common border, with multi-year financing in order to improve the planning of human resources, equipment, and infrastructure."

In accordance with an agreement made in November, Britain agreed to pay France an additional 72.2 million euros ($74.5 million) in order to deploy an additional 350 people to detect and intercept migrant boat crossings.

According to current data from French authorities, everyday anti-migrant operations in northern France involve around 800 individuals, including regular police, border control agents, and customs officers.

The aide further highlighted that "at this stage, we do not see any major impact on the French coast assuming that the law enters into force."

After years of tension, ties between the largest military and diplomatic forces in western Europe are anticipated to be repaired following Macron and Sunak's meeting in Paris.

Analysts believe that the conflict in Ukraine and the resignation of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have reconciled the estranged allies.

Another French Presidential aide said, "We are coming out of a period when we have not had a summit in five years," adding that "we're renewing things at the moment, putting things back in order, and preparing for the future."

Following the summit between the leaders, joint statements about the training of Ukrainian military personnel, as well as new cooperation on future weapon development and nuclear energy, are also anticipated.