France FINALLY admits it could take back Channel migrants – if EU states agree
FRANCE has finally admitted it could take back migrants arriving in Britain on small boats — but only if other EU nations agree.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex told Boris Johnson he was willing to set up a “mechanism”.
France pledged to start talks with member states. Mr Johnson has said that a returns agreement with France would be the simplest way of making the dangerous route across the Channel unviable.
Last week, 27 migrants died when their small boat sank — sparking a week of mud-slinging over the crisis.
President Emmanuel Macron dubbed Mr Johnson a “clown” for publishing a letter to him on Twitter.
Yesterday, Mr Castex — in a letter sent to No10 and in the French media — said the UK had more to do to stop crossings, such as “sufficient work market controls”.
But he rejected Home Secretary Priti Patel’s plan to turn boats back at sea.
He said it would “put in danger the lives of migrants and would not be within maritime law”.
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He formally rejected an offer for British troops or police to help patrol French beaches, adding: “It’s a question of sovereignty.” France again suggested setting up an asylum-seeker processing centre in Calais to help deal with the crisis — as revealed by The Sun earlier this week.
Some 26,000 migrants have made the trip across the Channel this year.
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A No10 spokesperson said Britain and France are determined to prevent further loss of life.
They added: “We stand ready to discuss all options in the spirit of our close cooperation and partnership, and as a shared, global challenge it is vital we address illegal migration collectively and urgently.”
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