UK signs €541mn deal with France to TRY to curb cross-Channel migration
In a move that's being hailed as a "new chapter" in the once-strained relationship between the UK and France, British Chancellor Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron have pledged more money and resources to curb cross-Channel migration. Sunak promised to pay France €541mn over three years to support increased police patrols, a new detention centre and expanded drone surveillance of beaches around Dunkirk and Calais. This deal builds on a previous agreement struck in November last year, which included annual UK spending of €70mn.
At the end of the first Franco-British summit in five years, the two leaders embraced and Sunak called Macron "mon ami" - a sign of how they are seeking to move past tensions caused by Brexit and its aftermath. While Sunak returned to the UK with some results on his domestic political priority of curbing small boat crossings, there was no deal on returning migrants. However, Macron and Sunak did announce new cooperation on defence and energy, with both countries vowing to expand nuclear and renewables to help combat climate change.
Despite the positive vibes, some have expressed skepticism about Sunak's deal, with Labour's shadow attorney-general, Emily Thornberry, demanding to know what was achieved by the hundreds of millions that the UK has already given France to tackle this crisis.
Overall, while there is optimism about the future of the UK-French relationship, Macron stressed that it depended on what happened next. But for now, it seems like the two leaders are on good terms, with Macron and Sunak holding one-to-one talks at the Élysée Palace for more than one hour without notetakers or aides, in a sign of the personal warmth dubbed "Le Bromance" in the media between the pair.
Despite the positive vibes, some have expressed skepticism about Sunak's deal, with Labour's shadow attorney-general, Emily Thornberry, demanding to know what was achieved by the hundreds of millions that the UK has already given France to tackle this crisis.
Overall, while there is optimism about the future of the UK-French relationship, Macron stressed that it depended on what happened next. But for now, it seems like the two leaders are on good terms, with Macron and Sunak holding one-to-one talks at the Élysée Palace for more than one hour without notetakers or aides, in a sign of the personal warmth dubbed "Le Bromance" in the media between the pair.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.