China News Agency, Paris, November 28 (Reporter Li Yang) France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands held a ministerial meeting on the 28th local time to discuss illegal immigration and combat smuggling.
The ministerial meeting was held on the same day in Calais, a port city in northern France. Ministers responsible for internal affairs or immigration affairs of the four countries, representatives of the European Commission, Europol and other institutions attended the meeting.
The meeting was hosted by France and hosted by the French Minister of the Interior Dalmanin.
Dalmanin said that the capsizing of a refugee ferry boat in the English Channel on the 24th was "a real tragedy."
He said that the smuggling issue "crosses national boundaries" and therefore needs to work with European partners to develop a common solution.
The French Ministry of the Interior revealed that the meeting will focus on cooperation in combating smuggling.
A refugee ferry sailing from France to Britain capsized in the English Channel on the 24th, killing 27 people. The victims were mainly from Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran.
Rescuers said that these refugees were on an inflatable boat about 10 meters long.
This incident is still under further investigation.
France and the United Kingdom have differences on related issues.
British Prime Minister Johnson released the contents of his letter to French President Macron on social media on the 25th, hoping to reach an agreement on the deportation of illegal immigrants, allowing the United Kingdom to send stowaways back to France.
Macron criticized Johnson for disclosing the content of the leaders' communication as an "irrational" approach.
Dalmanin had earlier cancelled the invitation to the British Secretary of the Interior Patel to attend the ministerial meeting on the 28th.
He also said that the content of inter-governmental communications should not be published through social media, and pointed out that the UK should assume corresponding responsibilities on related issues.
Dalmanin still expressed his hope that France and Britain will continue to cooperate on relevant issues, and there is still a lot of work to be done between the two countries.
Agence France-Presse reported that many refugees are believed to have travelled to northern France from Belgium, while inflatable boats and life jackets can be purchased from countries such as the Netherlands and Germany.
The investigation revealed that one of the suspects involved in the capsizing of the refugee ferry boat was driving a German-licensed car.
(over)