How to prevent the worst? Qfour days after a deadly shipwreck between France and the United Kingdom, which left at least 27 dead, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, gave a press conference on Monday, November 29, after the decisions taken by Emmanuel Macron in the defense and national security council Monday morning. He notably announced a strengthening of “means of combating smugglers”, with the doubling of the Ocriest staff (lCentral Office for the Suppression of Irregular Immigration and the Employment of Untitled Foreigners), with seven regional branches.
The Frontex plane, which will be able to fly day and night over the Belgian and French sea coasts, will be reinforced by two helicopters from civil security and the gendarmerie, the minister also announced. Follow our live.
No questioning of the Touquet agreements. “There will be no questioning of the Touquet agreements” because “they are not related to illegal immigration of small boats”, estimated Gérald Darmanin. These agreements, concluded in 2003 to turn the page on the Sangatte center, stipulate that screening of persons departing for the United Kingdom must be carried out when trains and ships depart from France, and vice versa.
France calls for an agreement between the UK and the EU. “What we need is an agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom”, said the Minister of the Interior. This one “cannot be a simple unilateral readmission agreement”, he completed. It is necessary “find ways to reopen legal channels for immigration to Britain”, also affirmed Gérald Darmanin who refuses to accept “the practice of refoulement at sea”. Prime Minister Jean Castex will write to his British counterpart Boris Johnson to offer him a deal.
An emergency European meeting in Calais on Sunday. The French, German, Dutch and Belgian immigration officials, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and the directors of the European criminal police agencies Europol and Frontex borders were brought together. They have “reaffirmed their commitment to do everything possible to fight more effectively against criminal networks of smugglers” and recognized the need “to improve joint cooperation with the United Kingdom”.
Xavier Bertrand proposes to “let” the migrants “take the ferry”. Xavier Bertrand, candidate for the Les Républicains primary for the presidential election, proposed Monday on franceinfo to “let” migrants “take the ferry” in the direction of the United Kingdom and install a “balance of power” with Prime Minister Boris Johnson. An idea “irresponsible”, according to François Bayrou, High Commissioner for Planning, President of the Modem and Mayor of Pau.