Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that the UK will help fund a detention centre in northern France as part of a £500 million package aimed at preventing migrants from crossing the English Channel. The announcement followed a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where both leaders agreed to increase joint funding for border patrols, including 500 additional officers and new drones.
The new measures are intended to intercept more small boats making dangerous crossings and drastically reduce the number of journeys, which are estimated to reach 60,000 this year. The UK will contribute €141 million this year, €191 million next year, and €209 million in 2025. Part of this funding will go towards a detention centre in Dunkirk to hold individuals with no right to remain in France.
Sunak defended the legality of his government's new legislation, which gives ministers a duty to detain and deport people arriving in the UK via small boats. He stated that the law is 'designed to break the business models of the gangs' and insisted it complies with international law. However, human rights campaigners and the UN refugee agency have condemned the plan as inhumane and unworkable, accusing the UK of 'extinguishing the right to seek refugee protection'.
Critics argue that Sunak must provide safe and legal routes for refugees before implementing detention and deportation. The Prime Minister has said the government will explore creating more routes but has not provided specifics. The UK and France have previously reached several cooperation deals, but the number of Channel crossings has continued to rise.
During the press conference, Sunak spoke warmly of Macron, calling him 'mon ami', and expressed hope for improved UK-France relations post-Brexit. The two leaders also signed a new agreement on civil nuclear cooperation. Sunak emphasised the importance of working together to prevent the weaponisation of energy security, referencing Vladimir Putin.
