You have free access to all observer articles by being our subscriber.
under update
The French government has canceled high-level talks with the UK over the migration crisis in the English Channel, a diplomatic crisis broke out this week before drowning, killing 27 migrants Try to cross the channel and follow a The message was sent on Thursday From British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to French President Emmanuel Macron.
news BBC presents on Friday morning, who made it clear that French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin had no intention of pursuing high-level talks with British Home Secretary Priti Patel after Boris Johnson publicly revealed the letter he sent to Emmanuel Macron – in which he detailed steps he understands should be taken to resolve the ongoing migration crisis. via Return all immigrants who have crossed the English Channel to Europe.
Priti Patel will not visit Gerald Darmanin next Sunday in France for further discussions on the matter.
The political crisis surrounding the crossing of the English Channel intensified this week with 27 immigrants died who were trying to cross the channel between northern France and the United Kingdom On an inflatable boat that sank.
Inflatable boat wreck. At least 27 migrants died trying to cross the English Channel
In the wake of the tragedy, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron, in which he explicitly proposed the creation of mechanisms that would allow all migrants who crossed the English Channel to return to the European continent.
In the letter, Boris Johnson told Emmanuel Macron that he had already warned of the possibility of such a tragedy. “As I said in a letter I sent to you over the summer, I had worried for a long time that we might wake up one morning with news of a grave tragedy., with heavy loss of life on the canal, including women and children. I indicated that the British and French people would have a right to ask whether we had done everything in our power to avoid such a disaster,” Johnson wrote. “This disaster has just happened.”
Boris Johnson said in the letter that it was necessary to “increase” the efforts of the English Channel patrols to prevent further tragedies, and recalled this Thursday morning “More boats arrived with more lives at risk“.
My message to President Macron. pic.twitter.com/vXH0jpxzPo
– Boris Johnson November 25 2021
In the letter, the British Prime Minister included a series of “ideas specific to saving lives and dealing with traffickers”, in “spirit of partnership and cooperationWith France and Europe. Ideas include the creation of joint naval patrols, made up of British and French police forces with jurisdiction over the territorial waters of both countries. the use of more advanced radar and sensor technologies to monitor movements in the English Channel; Monitoring channel through joint air patrols; As well as deepening cooperation between the intelligence services on both sides of the English Channel, which allows for the acceleration of police operations and arrests on British and French soil.
Boris Johnson also formally requested that France and the United Kingdom conduct joint patrols as soon as possible, possibly activated from a joint chain of command, It ensures that London is ready to start operations as early as next week.
But the most controversial point in the letter is Boris Johnson’s proposal to negotiate an agreement on the “systematic return” of all illegal immigrants arriving in the UK. Johnson remembers that France will soon take over the rotating presidency of the European Union and, as such, must make this issue a priority.
Until an agreement is reached at the European level, Boris Johnson wants to reach a bilateral agreement with France until “All illegal immigrants crossing the canal are returnedJohnson continues: “This would have an immediate impact and would significantly reduce – if not stop – transit, essentially saving lives by smashing the criminal gang business model,” noting that London was willing to share the initial draft of this deal with Paris.
The letter sent to Macron was published by the British government on Thursday evening, angering the French government.
According to the BBC, the French interior minister said France was disappointed with Boris Johnson’s letter and that “publicly publishing it made the situation worse”. “We find the British Prime Minister’s public message unacceptable and opposed to our discussions among partners. As a result, Priti Patel is no longer invited“For the meeting that was scheduled for next Sunday.
French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke about the matter, sharply criticizing the British Prime Minister, saying his methods “not seriousReferring to the publication of a letter in which Boris Johnson proposes to return migrants crossing the English Channel to France.
“I’m amazed at styles when they aren’t serious. Leaders do not communicate about these topics via public messages and TwitterEmmanuel Macron said in Rome, during a press conference with Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, after signing a bilateral agreement.
Macron stressed that what is happening in the English Channel “It’s very dangerous‘, that France “has assumed its responsibility in matters of migration” and that “the real answer is serious cooperation” to combat networks of human traffickers.
The French president reiterated that at the European meeting on migration scheduled for Sunday in Calais, at which the invitation to the UK was withdrawn, “the ministers of France and Europe will work hard on a serious issue and then we will see what to do with the UK if they decide to be serious.” .
Meanwhile, the UK government has asked France to reverse its decision to cancel the invitation of British Home Secretary Priti Patel to a meeting scheduled for Sunday on illegal immigrants with several European countries.
“No nation can solve this alone. I hope the French will reconsider [a decisão]Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC.
“It’s in our interest. It’s in their interest. It’s definitely in the best interest of people being trafficked into the UK, which leads to these tragic scenes we’re seeing – people losing their lives.”
“Friends and neighbors must work together, there is no other way to solve the problem‘ Grant Shapps insists.
Crossing the Channel by migrants to England is a regular subject of tension between Paris and London, with British authorities accusing the French of insufficient efforts to prevent them from boarding, despite their contributions of financial aid.
“Hardcore alcohol maven. Hipster-friendly analyst. Introvert. Devoted social media advocate.”
