During the 35th Franco-British summit at Sandhurst on Thursday 18 January, the British government announced that it intended to increase its financial contribution to Calais and the French coast by £44.5 million (€55 million) in order to strengthen border security. The announcement was made official at the end of the Franco-British summit, which opened in the middle of the afternoon.
According to French news agency AFP, the British government said that just as it invested for its borders in the rest of the UK, it was normal to monitor continually whether it could strengthen controls in France and Belgium to ensure they were as secure as possible.
The summit led to the signature by British Prime Minister Theresa May and her French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, of a new treaty to complete the Le Touquet agreements – a request made by Paris. These Le Touquet agreements have been in force since 2004 and stipulate that the British border is set on the French coast, where British officials carry out controls. Over the last three years, the UK has spent nearly £100 million (€113 million) under these agreements.
The treaty signed by Macron and May provides for more joint border controls and the acceleration of asylum request procedures, especially for unaccompanied under-18 year olds who want to reach the UK, either alone or to join the rest of their family. London has often been accused by NGOs of dragging its feet in handling these requests made by under 18-year-olds.
Macron and May also discussed defence issues at the summit, as well as post-Brexit relations. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)