During talks in Paris on Tuesday (30 January), Home Secretary
and French Interior Minister
Gérald Darmanin discussed the breadth of their shared priorities,
the enduring strength of the UK-France relationship and the
opportunities for further deepening of cooperation.
This year marks the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale,
which brought a new age of UK-French relations.
The Home Secretary welcomed the excellent work from French law
enforcement to reduce the number of small boats reaching the UK
by 36% in 2023 compared to the previous year. He also welcomed
the action to target ‘taxi-boat’ launches, including by
constructing barriers and increasing patrols, where UK-France
cooperation directly impacted organised criminal activity.
To go further in our response, the Home Secretary and Interior
Minister Darmanin welcomed plans to accelerate delivery of the
March 2023 UK-France Summit agreement. These plans will expedite
deployment of key aerial surveillance equipment, ensuring
unprecedented levels of coverage to enable French law enforcement
to intercept crossing attempts as quickly as possible. The Home
Secretary underlined that cross-Channel cooperation to save lives
at sea remains an important priority.
The Home Secretary also endorsed both countries’ commitment to
new UK-France cooperation focused on disruption of small boats
materials’ supply through enhanced intelligence sharing.
As part of further pan-European efforts to tackle illegal
migration, the ministers discussed convening a meeting of the
Calais Group Interior Ministers in the spring to lead discussions
with key near neighbour partners on further efforts to tackle
illegal migration.
The Home Secretary committed to the UK continuing to share
security experience and expertise to support France’s
preparations for the Olympics.
Home Secretary said:
The UK and France are friends, neighbours and partners. Our
cooperation against the full range of security threats and
challenges is vital for both our countries and for Europe.
France is an essential partner to prevent illegal migration. The
UK continues to support the challenges faced by French law
enforcement, operating under increasingly difficult circumstances
to save lives and disrupt organised criminal gangs. Their
commitment is exemplary, and the results are impressive.
I want to thank my friend Gérald Darmanin for his continued
leadership and support in tackling the small boat crisis and
pledge to see our countries continue to work closely together,
not least as France takes on the challenge of hosting the
Olympics this summer.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said:
In the follow-up of 2023, France and the UK will deepen their
cooperation, which is essential in the very intense fight against
violent and reckless smugglers’ networks.
They will also continue calling for a UK-EU agreement on
migration issues so as to better manage illegal as well as legal
migration.
Besides, their joint action will also cover the security of major
upcoming events this year, with a particular focus on the Summer
Olympics.
The dialogue between our 2 countries should also help improve the
fight against radicalisation as well as crimes committed online.
Both countries continue to deliver against the landmark deal
agreed between the Prime Minister and President Macron during the
March 2023 Leaders’ Summit. Already, over half of the 500
UK-funded French personnel have been deployed to tackle small
boats.
The recent fatal incidents in the Channel are a tragic reminder
of the human cost of these dangerous crossings. It is imperative
to dismantle the organised criminal gangs responsible, whose
action is increasingly violent and inhuman.
Since May 2023, the UK and France have worked even more closely
together in northern France, with UK liaison officers permanently
based in Lille and in Calais, enhancing information exchange at
working level between our countries in order to prevent crossings
and investigate organised criminal groups.
The UK and France continue to have a strong and highly valued
relationship on security and counter terrorism issues. This
includes cooperation to tackle terrorism at home and overseas,
including action against Hamas and other terrorist groups.
The UK continues to offer France with support for the upcoming
Olympic Games, having shared experiences from London 2012 and
other major events including Her Majesty The Late Queen’s funeral
and His Majesty The King’s Coronation.
