Emmanuel Macron and Rishi Sunak presented the details of their new project to curb illegal immigration between France and the UK.
By VP with AFP
© KIN CHEUNG / POOL / AFP
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Ihe UK and France have struck a new deal to curb illegal immigration from France, with increased funding over the next three years from the British side, British Prime Minister Rishi announced on Friday (March 10). Sunak and President Emmanuel Macron meeting in Paris.
“Over the next three years, the UK’s contribution will be €141m in 2023-24, €191m in 2024-25 and €209m in 2025-26,” a statement said. broadcast at the end of the Franco-British summit.
“We are announcing a new detention center in the north of France, a new command center bringing together for the first time our teams […] and 500 additional new agents patrolling French beaches,” detailed the British Prime Minister during a press conference.
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“Increase the interception rate”
More drones and other surveillance technologies will complement the device “to increase the rate of interception”, he also said. The French president stressed for his part that the two countries wanted to “move forward together” in the fight against irregular immigration while being “aware of the human issues” and “the extreme sensitivity of these subjects”.
He recalled that in 2022 “more than 1,300 makeshift boat crossings” had been “prevented”, 55 organized crime networks dismantled, “thanks to the work of the joint Franco-British intelligence cell”.
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A very popular axis
Conversely, nearly 46,000 were able to make the crossing last year. The two countries had signed a new agreement in mid-November to fight together against migrant crossings of the Channel. But funding was planned until 2023 only.
“Today we have decided to continue in this direction in a very operational, concrete and conscious way of the shared nature of our responsibility”, declared Emmanuel Macron.