“France will not let the English Channel become a cemetery”, Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday, November 24 after the death of at least 31 migrants in the Channel, asking for the “immediate reinforcement of the resources of the Frontex agency at the external borders” of the European Union, according to a press release from the Elysee.
The head of state also claims “an emergency meeting of European ministers concerned by the migration challenge” and ensure that “everything will be done to find and condemn those responsible” of this drama. Prime Minister Jean Castex will hold an interministerial meeting on this issue on Thursday at 8:30 am with the Ministers of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, of Justice, Éric Dupond-Moretti, of the Armies, Florence Parly, of the Sea, Annick Girardin, of Transport , Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, and the Secretary of State for Europe, Clément Beaune, according to his services.
In his press release, Emmanuel Macron reports at least 31 dead. This tragedy is the deadliest since the soaring in 2018 of migratory crossings of the Channel, facing the increasing lockdown of the port of Calais and the Channel tunnel used until then by migrants trying to reach England.
“We are all moved by this tragedy which strikes everyone in their privacy and in their values”, also declares Emmanuel Macron, expressing his “compassion” and the “unconditional support from France” to the families of the victims. “It is Europe in its deepest part – humanism, respect for the dignity of each person, which is in mourning”, he adds.
It calls into question the “networks of smugglers who, by exploiting misery and distress, endanger human lives and ultimately decimate families”. “France acts, in connection with Great Britain, to dismantle the networks of smugglers” and “since the beginning of the year, thanks to the mobilization of 600 police officers and gendarmes, 1,552 smugglers have been arrested on the North coast and 44 smuggling networks dismantled “, said the president, adding that “7,800 migrants were saved”.