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The drama off Calais (Pas-de-Calais), in which 27 migrants lost their lives on Wednesday, November 24, is fueling tensions between Paris and London on the migration issue. The two capitals are passing the buck.
The British government remains on its very firm position: the problem is on the French side. Boris Johnson repeated it a few hours after the tragedy, pointing directly to France. This is a recurring criticism, because for the English, Paris does not do enough to limit the departures of migrants to their coasts.
Joint patrols
The UK government is now offering joint patrols to try to prevent illegal crossings. Last July, the United Kingdom pledged to pay 63 million euros to the force to strengthen its patrols on its coasts. A financial agreement that no longer seems sufficient for London, which is now moving towards a policy with France to fight against illegal immigration.