Skip to main content
France - United Kingdom

Britain to pay 15 million euros to Calais after migrant ferry storming incidents

Britain is to contribute 15 million euros to tighten security at the French Channel port of Calais, following attempts by migrants to break through barriers and cross to the United Kingdom.

Migrants followed by police outside the port at Calais
Migrants followed by police outside the port at Calais Reuters/Pascal Rossignol
Advertising

In an agreement reached after three weeks of negotiations, the UK has accepted joint responsibility with France for “urgent and long-term measures that need to be enacted” to tackle the “crisis affecting the migration question in Calais for the last few years”, Interior Ministre Bernard Cazeneuve.

British Home Secretary Theresa May has agreed to pay five million euros a year for the next three years into a joint fund that will beef up security at the port and “protect vulnerable people”.

The two countries’ police forces will step up cooperation to combat people-smuggling and “joint information campaigns” will “explain the illusory and dangerous nature of illegal entry into the United Kingdom”, Cazeneuve said.

About 1,500 migrants are camped out in Calais, hoping to go to Britain, according to French officials.

On two recent occasions, they have broken through fences surrounding the port, trying to board ferries or climb onto lorries heading for England, leading Calais mayor Natacha Bouchad to threaten to close the port.
 

Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning

Keep up to date with international news by downloading the RFI app

Share :
Page not found

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.