President focuses on migration situation in Calais

Background

Created in 1976 the France-British Summit was a regular meeting between the President of France and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and their government ministers.

Its objective was to strengthen strategic bilateral cooperation in the following areas:

+ Defence
+ Security
+ Counter-terrorism
+ Energy
+ Climate and environment
+ Education
+ Research and innovation

The 2018 Summit took place in the context of the UK negotiating to leave the European Union (Brexit), with Britain claiming it still wanted to maintain a close security relationship with its European partners, and President's Macron's European Intervention Initiative.

In addition, France sought further cooperation from the United Kingdom in connection with the migration challenges facing France and, in particular, the pressures facing Calais.

For information on the wider results of the 35th UK-France Summit click here.

|The 35th UK-France Summit took place in Sandhurst, UK, on 18 January 2018 between Emmanuel Macron. President of France and Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Prior to the meeting President Macron visited Calais on the 16 January 2018 to give a speech in which he focused on the migration situation in Calais and the need for France and the UK to work more closely together on the management of the situation.

In particular he called for handling of the issue of unaccompanied minors more effectively, strengthening police cooperation in Calais and with the countries of origin and transit, and releasing funds to support important projects for the development of the Calais region.

During the Summit meeting the two countries agreed to sign a Treaty concerning the reinforcement of co-operation for the co-ordinated management of their shared border

• Primary Source

UK: GOV.UK: Draft Treaty, January 2018: Treaty concerning the reinforcement of co-operation for the co-ordinated management of their shared border https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/674885/Treaty_Concerning_the_Reinforcement_Of_Cooperation_For_The_Coordinated_Management_Of_Their_Shared_Border.pdf

The Guardian, 16.01.18: France will not allow another refugee camp in Calais, says Macron https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/16/macron-visits-calais-before-migrant-crisis-meeting-with-may

The Guardian, 14.01.18: Britain must pay more for Calais migrants, says French minister https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/14/britain-must-pay-more-for-calais-migrants-says-french-minister

The Local.fr, 18.01.18: [Opinion]: Britain throwing even more money at security in Calais is not the answer https://www.thelocal.fr/20180118/opinion-uk-spending-more-money-on-yet-more-security-at-calais-wont-solve-migrant-crisis

Blog: Politics at Surrey, 18.01.18: Tightening Le Touquet and the second-order effects of Brexit http://politicsatsurrey.ideasoneurope.eu/2018/01/18/tightening-le-touquet-second-order-effects-brexit/

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