Migration: Paris criticizes London for not fulfilling its promises
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, visiting the coast in northern France, October 9, 2021. AFP - FRANCOIS LO PRESTI
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Sixty-three million euros is the sum that the United Kingdom owes France to more effectively monitor its borders.
The goal: to prevent migrants from crossing the Channel.
Another subject of tension between the two countries.
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With our correspondent in London,
Marie Boëda
"
They promised and still have not paid,
" said French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
The UK has not paid a dime for France to double the number of police patrolling its coast.
The two countries speak, but do not listen to each other.
On the one hand, the French minister explains that border controls are tightened to prevent migrants from reaching Great Britain.
Some 13,500 crossing attempts have been prevented over the past ten months.
The implication is that it is time for the British to honor their financial commitments.
A sentence that sounds like a warning.
On the other hand, Priti Patel, the British Home Secretary, criticizes her neighbor for not doing enough.
It is threatening not to provide the planned funding.
The English Channel is one of the most dangerous seas;
it is also one of the busiest.
This weekend, 1,115 migrants made it through.
More than 18,000 since the start of the year, compared to 8,460 for the whole of last year.
On Sunday October 10, the Secretary of State for Commerce in England, Kwasi Kwarteng, tried to calm the situation.
He assures us that the two governments are working together very effectively.
► To read again: France and the United Kingdom agree to curb illegal immigration
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