London and Paris had so far tried to silence their disagreements on the migration issue after the shipwreck that claimed the lives of 27 migrants in the Channel. But the tension rose a notch, Friday, November 26, after the publication of a letter from Boris Johnson addressed to Emmanuel Macron, in which the British Prime Minister asks France to take back immigrants arriving in the United Kingdom. In response, the Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, canceled the visit of his British counterpart, Priti Patel, to Sunday’s meeting devoted to migrants.
This will take place, without the British but with the ministers responsible for Belgian, German and Dutch immigration, as well as the European Commission. In a message to Mme Patel, of which Agence France-Presse was aware, Mr. Darmanin believes that if Boris Johnson’s letter to Emmanuel Macron is a ” disappointment “, the fact of having made this letter public is ” worse “ Again.
Call not to “use” the situation
The British Prime Minister indeed published the letter in question on Twitter Thursday evening. “I propose that we put in place a bilateral readmission agreement to allow the return of all illegal migrants crossing the Channel”, he wrote there.
My letter to President Macron. https://t.co/vXH0jpxzPo
Recalling that “The European Union has concluded readmission agreements with countries such as Belarus and the Russian Federation”, Mr Johnson said “Hope that such an agreement can also be concluded with the United Kingdom quickly.” “” This measure would have an immediate effect and would considerably reduce – or even stop – crossings, saving lives by fundamentally breaking the business model of criminal gangs ”, he added.
The day after this unprecedented drama in the Channel, Boris Johnson, who made the fight against immigration his hobbyhorse in the wake of Brexit, had pointed out the responsibility of France, suggesting that his action was not “At the height of the situation”. Emmanuel Macron retorted that he was waiting for the British “That they cooperate fully and refrain from instrumentalizing a dramatic situation for political ends”.