Government to increase Calais border spend during UK-France summit
Theresa May and Emmanuel Macron will bolster efforts to deal with migration and terrorism when they meet at Sandhurst.
Thursday 18 January 2018 14:23, UK
Britain will spend close to 拢45m on extra security measures at Channel ports in a bid to stem migrants' attempts to enter the UK.
The increased funding will be announced as part of a major UK-France summit at Sandhurst military academy on Thursday, which will also focus on greater defence cooperation.
French President Emmanuel Macron will head a delegation of his country's ministers during talks with British counterparts at the famous Berkshire training centre.
It is Mr Macron's first visit to the UK since being elected last year, during which he is expected to announce the loan of the historic Bayeux Tapestry.
The boost in UK funding for border security will be spent on fencing, CCTV and detection technology at Calais and other ports.
Ahead of Thursday's summit, French interior minister Gerard Collomb had called on Britain to pay more towards the costs of dealing with people illegally trying to cross the Channel, as well as accept more refugees and unaccompanied child migrants from France.
Under the terms of the 2003 Le Touquet agreement, Britain's border controls were moved to French and Belgian ports, with Mr Macron having vowed to renegotiate the terms of the deal during his election campaign.
A Government spokesperson said: "This is about investing in and enhancing the security of the UK border.
"Just as we invest in our borders around the rest of the UK, it is only right that we constantly monitor whether there is more we can be doing at the UK border controls in France and Belgium to ensure they are as secure as possible".
The £44.5m in cash will also help relocate migrants away from Channel ports in order to prevent the re-establishment of camps such as the "Jungle" in Calais, which was cleared in 2016.
Earlier this week, on a visit to Calais, Mr Macron pledged there would be no reconstruction of the "Jungle" or other camps as he urged migrants to register at reception centres in France rather than attempt to enter the UK.
The UK is committed to resettling 480 children from Europe, although MPs have criticised a failure to fill the places provided under the Dubs scheme and demanded an overhaul.
The Government spokesperson added: "President Macron is right when he said earlier this week that those people already in France and in need of asylum should seek help there.
"The French are working hard to make sure people are treated fairly and given the support they need.
"Attempting to cross the Channel illegally is dangerous and not a journey which people should try to make."
In addition to the new agreements on Channel border security measures, the UK and France will also use Thursday's summit to announce greater military cooperation.
Three of the UK's Chinook helicopters will be sent to Mali to boost French counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel region of Africa.
British troops will not be involved in combat operations but the Chinooks will provide logistical support and help transport French soldiers.
In addition, the Government will pledge £50m in aid to the region and the Home Office will engage in efforts to tackle human trafficking.
In exchange, France will agree to commit troops to the UK-led NATO deployment in Estonia next year, aimed at providing a deterrence in the face of an increasing threat from Russia.
Alongside the summit, Mr Macron and Theresa May will have a private lunch and attend the Victoria and Albert Museum together on Thursday evening.
The Prime Minister said: "Today's summit will underline that we remain committed to defending our people and upholding our values as liberal democracies in the face of any threat, whether at home or abroad.
"But our friendship has always gone far beyond defence and security and the scope of today's discussions represents its broad and unique nature.
"And while this summit takes place as the UK prepares to leave the EU, this does not mean that the UK is leaving Europe.
"What is clear from the discussions we will have today is that a strong relationship between our two countries is in the UK, France and Europe's interests, both now and into the future."
Ahead of the meeting of UK and French ministers, a Sky Data poll revealed two-thirds (66%) of people believe Brexit has made Britain's relationship with France worse.
Only 6% believe leaving the EU has improved the UK-France relationship, while 28% said it would make no difference.
The survey also revealed 45% view France as an ally, with a quarter (25%) seeing the country as a rival and 31% saying it is neither.
:: Sky Data interviewed a nationally representative sample of 999 Sky customers via SMS on 17 January, 2018. Data are weighted to the profile of the population.
For full Sky Data tables, please .