Latest news with #SandhurstTreaty
Euractiv
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Euractiv
Macron and Starmer agree migrant returns deal
Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer have agreed a so-called 'one in, one out' deal that would see the UK return some asylum seekers who have crossed the Channel, in exchange for offering a legal route to others in France "with ties to the UK". Announced at the end of a three-day state visit to Britain on Thursday, the scheme means the French president and British prime minister can both claim political victory at home as they face growing pressure to reduce levels of irregular migration from far-right opposition parties. This agreement, a so-called pilot scheme which Starmer described as "ground-breaking", will be signed 'as soon as legal verification procedures have been completed, including those involving the European Union,' Macron clarified. The French President also said that France would be adapting 'its maritime intervention doctrine' – in other words, authorising the interception of smugglers' boats up to 300 metres from the French coast. This deal, which has raised serious concerns among some other EU countries, may initially apply to just fifty migrants a week, according to Le Monde – that is, around 2,600 per year – before being gradually expanded. Talks were reportedly stalled earlier this week in light of the objections of five Mediterranean countries, if migrants were to be returned from Britain to the first EU country they arrived in. More than 20,000 people successfully crossed the Channel during the first six months of 2025 – a 50% increase compared to last year. Since the signing of the Sandhurst Treaty between Paris and London in 2018, the UK has paid France €760 million to strengthen coastal surveillance. At the Northwood military base, Macron and Starmer also agreed to improve coordination between their two countries' nuclear forces, which could be 'jointly deployed' in the event of a threat. Paris and London consider that any 'extreme threat to Europe's security' would trigger 'a swift response from both countries, whatever form that response may take.' The two leaders also announced a joint operations headquarters in Paris for the coalition of 31 countries willing to provide security guarantees to Ukraine post-ceasefire. The base will move to London after a year.
LeMonde
09-07-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
London hopes for a shift in French immigration policy in the English Channel
Alongside defense, migration across the English Channel is the other major topic during Emmanuel Macron's state visit to the United Kingdom, which ends on Thursday, July 10. The French president was set to discuss the issue as early as July 9 during his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and it is to be a central focus again at the Franco-British summit scheduled for the following day. The subject has long been a thorn in Franco-British relations, but politically, both leaders need to show progress as more than 20,000 people managed to reach the British coast on small boats during the first half of 2025 – a rise of nearly 50% compared to the same period last year. Since the beginning of maritime crossings in late 2018, around 172,000 people have taken this perilous route on fragile boats, despite the significant resources deployed to monitor the border. Since 2018 and the signing of the Sandhurst Treaty between Paris and London – which supplements the 2003 Touquet Treaty – the United Kingdom has paid France €760 million for surveillance equipment, accommodation for additional law enforcement on the Opal Coast and the installation of video surveillance cameras in coastal towns and cities.
New Straits Times
07-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Migrants cast shadow on Starmer-Macron summit
BRITAIN and France are friends again following the rancour of Brexit, but the record number of irregular migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats remains a major point of friction. The issue will feature during a state visit to Britain by French President Emmanuel Macron starting Tuesday and new measures to curb the dangerous journeys are expected to be announced on Thursday following talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. More than 21,000 migrants have crossed from northern France to southeast England in rudimentary vessels this year, providing a massive headache for Starmer as the far-right soars in popularity. Images of overloaded vessels leaving French beaches with law enforcement officers appearing to just watch on exasperate UK politicians and the unforgiving tabloid press. "We pay for French cops' buggy, 4x4s and drones, but migrants still sailing," complained The Sun newspaper on Wednesday, in a reference to the so-called Sandhurst Treaty. The 2018 agreement, that runs until 2027, sees Britain finance actions taken in France to stop the migrants. Starmer, who led his Labour party to a sweeping victory in an election last year following 14 years of Conservative rule, has vowed to "take back control" of Britain's borders. But in the first six months of 2025, there was a 48 per cent increase in the number of people arriving on small boats compared to last year, with the government blaming extended dry weather. The annual record of 45,774 reached in 2022 could be broken this year, which would deal a massive blow to Starmer as Eurosceptic Nigel Farage's Reform UK party leads national polls. A new border control law going through Britain's parliament would give law enforcement counter-terror style powers to combat people-smuggling gangs. The UK has also signed agreements with countries on migrant transit routes, including Iraq, Serbia, and Germany. But Starmer needs strengthened cooperation with France, and key announcements were expected following their talks. Under pressure from London, Paris is considering tweaking its laws to allow police to intercept migrant boats up to 300 metres from France's shoreline. Currently, French law enforcement only intervene at sea to rescue passengers at risk of drowning. The two governments are also working on a migrant exchange programme. A pilot project would see Britain capable of returning to France someone who has crossed the Channel by boat, according to several media sources. France in exchange could deport an equivalent number of people to Britian, provided they have the right to live there, such as through family reunification. Paris wants to expand the agreement to the European Union so that readmissions can be shared among several countries. According to Britain's interior ministry, migrants who crossed the Channel between March 2024 and March 2025 were mainly Afghans, Syrians, Eritreans, Iranians, and Sudanese. French officials have claimed that Britain attracts migrants because the lack of a national identity card makes it easier to work illegally. Starmer's government has cracked down on illegal work – arrests increased by 51 per cent from July 2024 to the end of May, compared to the previous year, it says. But Peter Walsh, a researcher at Oxford University's Migration Observatory, doubts that it is easier to work illegally in Britain than in France. "You have to demonstrate that you have the right to work. If an employer doesn't carry out those checks, then they can face serious sanctions, fines and imprisonment. That's the same in France and the UK," he told AFP. Walsh believes the English language and presence of family members in Britain are key attractions, as well as Britain's departure from the European Union. "If you've claimed asylum in the EU and been refused, you can actually come to the UK and have another shot because we will not know that you've actually been refused in the EU," he said. Rishan Tsegay, 26, originally from Eritrea, arrived in England in 2015 hidden in the back of a lorry. She fled from Sudan through Libya, Italy and France. Last year, she became a British citizen and now works as a nurse. Tsegay says there is a "hostile environment" towards irregular migrants in Britain, saying they were often presented as "criminals" rather than people "contributing to society." She wants Starmer and Macron to focus on improving safe routes for migrants fleeing war-torn countries as a way to stop them risking the Channel crossings. "These people come here to seek safety," Tsegay insisted.
Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Migrants cast shadow on Starmer-Macron summit
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Rescue personnel bringing migrants ashore on Aug 12, 2023, after a boat carrying migrants from France sank in the English Channel. LONDON - Britain and France are friends again following the rancour of Brexit, but the record number of irregular migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats remains a major point of friction. The issue will feature during a state visit to Britain by French President Emmanuel Macron that starts on July 8 and new measures to curb the dangerous journeys are expected to be announced on July 10 following talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. More than 21,000 migrants have crossed from northern France to south-east England in rudimentary vessels this year, providing a massive headache for Mr Starmer as the far right soars in popularity. Images of overloaded vessels leaving French beaches with law enforcement officers appearing to just watch on exasperate British politicians and the unforgiving tabloid press. 'We pay for French cops' buggy, 4x4s and drones, but migrants still sailing,' complained The Sun newspaper on July 2, in a reference to the so-called Sandhurst Treaty. The 2018 agreement, that runs until 2027, sees Britain finance actions taken in France to stop the migrants. Mr Starmer, who led his Labour party to a sweeping victory in an election last year following 14 years of Conservative rule, has vowed to 'take back control' of Britain's borders. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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The annual record of 45,774 reached in 2022 could be broken this year, which would deal a massive blow to Mr Starmer as Eurosceptic Nigel Farage's Reform UK party leads national polls. A new border control law going through Britain's parliament would give law enforcement counter-terror style powers to combat people-smuggling gangs. Britain has also signed agreements with countries on migrant transit routes, including Iraq, Serbia, and Germany. But Mr Starmer needs strengthened cooperation with France, and key announcements were expected following their talks. Under pressure from London, Paris is considering tweaking its laws to allow police to intercept migrant boats up to 300 metres from France's shoreline. Currently, French law enforcement only intervene at sea to rescue passengers at risk of drowning. The two governments are also working on a migrant exchange programme. A pilot project would see Britain capable of returning to France someone who has crossed the Channel by boat, according to several media sources. France in exchange could deport an equivalent number of people to Britain, provided they have the right to live there, such as through family reunification. Paris wants to expand the agreement to the European Union so that readmissions can be shared among several countries. According to Britain's interior ministry, migrants who crossed the Channel between March 2024 and March 2025 were mainly Afghans, Syrians, Eritreans, Iranians, and Sudanese. French officials have claimed that Britain attracts migrants because the lack of a national identity card makes it easier to work illegally. Mr Starmer's government has cracked down on illegal work – arrests increased by 51 per cent from July 2024 to the end of May, compared to the previous year, it says. Seeking 'safety' But Peter Walsh, a researcher at Oxford University's Migration Observatory, doubts that it is easier to work illegally in Britain than in France. 'You have to demonstrate that you have the right to work. If an employer doesn't carry out those checks, then they can face serious sanctions, fines and imprisonment. That's the same in France and the UK,' he told AFP. Mr Walsh believes the English language and presence of family members in Britain are key attractions, as well as Britain's departure from the European Union. 'If you've claimed asylum in the EU and been refused, you can actually come to the UK and have another shot because we will not know that you've actually been refused in the EU,' he said. Ms Rishan Tsegay, 26, originally from Eritrea, arrived in England in 2015 hidden in the back of a lorry. She fled from Sudan through Libya, Italy and France. Last year, she became a British citizen and now works as a nurse. Ms Tsegay says there is a 'hostile environment' towards irregular migrants in Britain, saying they were often presented as 'criminals' rather than people 'contributing to society'. She wants Mr Starmer and Mr Macron to focus on improving safe routes for migrants fleeing war-torn countries as a way to stop them risking the Channel crossings. 'These people come here to seek safety,' Ms Tsegay insisted. AFP
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Can the tide turn on the Channel migrant boat crossings?
On France's northern coast, they call the people smuggling and dangerous dinghies phenomenon, La Crise Migratoire. But do the UK and France now have a chance of consigning the small boats to history? Somewhat eclipsed by events this week in Washington, Yvette Cooper became the first British home secretary in five years to go to the French coast to see for herself how £540m of British taxpayers' money is being used to tackle people smuggling gangs. She was the guest of her French counterpart, interior minister Bruno Retailleau. The fact that he invited his British opposite number to the frontline of a deeply sensitive problem for both countries speaks volumes. Rather than slinging English Channel mud at each other, this diplomatic rapprochement began with a warm embrace in the cold morning air of Le Touquet airport - and ended with both feeling they may be on the verge of breakthroughs. In the first seven weeks of this year, successful crossings have been down by 41% on the same period of 2024. As the weather improves, both governments know that could be reversed. The optimism comes not from the daily statistics, but what the French and British believe is an increasingly slick coastal operation that may be making it harder for people smugglers to offer crossings to migrants making their way to the coast. The Conservatives maintain there is no real deterrent to come to the Channel - because the government cancelled the deeply controversial Rwanda plan. And everyone who works with refugees says that people in genuine need of protection will have to turn to smugglers until the UK comes up with safe routes for them. The roots of the feeling that things could now change were planted in the 2018 Sandhurst Treaty, signed when the Conservative's Theresa May was prime minister. The UK promised that year to fund coastal security operations against smugglers and this year Paris will receive around £172m. Tough negotiations are continuing over what happens from 2027. On Thursday, Cooper saw what that cash is buying: boots on the ground and an awful lot of kit and technology. The French have 1,200 security personnel deployable daily on coastal smuggler operations. Some 730 of them are paid for by the British. At the local headquarters of the Gendarmerie Nationale, the military police teams now wear a Nato-like "Mission Small Boat" sleeve badge. They put on a good show for their British visitors - and told some grim stories of shoreline violence and rescues - but the real action is beyond the parade ground. French pilots are now in the air most days, using thermal cameras to spot migrants in the dunes. Drones move rapidly over wild coastline, providing pictures back to small mobile units of officers in military-grade beach buggies. All of this kit and other tools aim to stop three things from coming together: migrants, the flimsy dinghies and the low-powered engines to power a crossing. The engines and low-grade vessels are brought at speed in vans from up to four hours away in Germany. The migrants meet the gear, assemble it and put to sea in minutes. The French say their teams have become more adept at reaching dinghies and destroying them in the dunes, but the migrants try to repel the police with missiles until they've launched. This places the French police in a bind: They are trying to save lives. They cannot shoot people just because they are desperate. So this is a daily race. But here's why both sides think things may move their way. The average number of migrants per boat is now often up to 100 people. The cramming suggests the gangs are moving to fewer launches because that's easier to evade detection. Launch locations began to include estuaries a staggering 60km away from the Dover Strait - so the police countered with barrages and dams - and now they're gathering intelligence from train stations about how the migrants are moving around the region. How dangerous are the English Channel dinghies? So the gangs changed again and are now opting for "taxi boats". Quite simply, one or two migrants get the craft quietly into the water and then pick up others as they wait offshore in the surf. It's pictures of these craft struggling to get out of the waves on the Pas de Calais' beautiful and wild beaches that have enraged the French as much as the British and led many to ask why the police don't just stop them. France's relatively new interior minister told me this week he now wants to change complex maritime rules to allow his land-based units to intercept these taxi-boats as they sit in shallow waters. This is what the British have asked the French to do for years. He is also proposing a new offence of illegal residence - but beach push-backs could be the game changer: no boats means no business - and that means no profit. All of that is a big if - but it is not the only tactic now potentially bearing down on the gangs. The UK's National Crime Agency understands better than before how gangs bring the boats and engines from Germany to France. If the intelligence on these vans can get to the French in time, the Gendarmes can intercept and destroy the cargo. Germany meanwhile has agreed to make it a crime to facilitate illegal immigration to the UK. That is a really big deal because it would mean police could raid the warehouses storing the dinghies. Bulgaria customs officials have shown that existing laws can be used to seize consignment of dinghies as they enter the EU from Turkey - and the icing on the cake for the British would be China seize the cheap engines which have no place in the legitimate maritime market. The two sides are talking, but there's nothing confirmed there yet. While those conversations continue, the UK's legal plans to criminalise actions that prepare the way for a crossing - such as funding, advertising and other logistical arrangements - will go through Parliament. Another key feature in the package means jail for anyone endangers lives at sea by attacking the police units on the French beaches or obstructs a rescue. If La Crise Migratoire is going to end, all of these individual initiatives, legal reforms and technological solutions need to work together. But there is genuine optimism that this could be the year when things begin to change.
