“We must further strengthen collaboration” with London, believes Emmanuel Macron
According to the maritime prefecture, around 15,400 migrants attempted the dangerous crossing of the English Channel between January 1 and August 31
Paris must “strengthen cooperation” on the thorny issue of migrants with London even if the British “oscillate between partnership and provocation”, estimated Emmanuel Macron in an interview with ” The voice of the North “ published Thursday, November 18.
The Head of State recognizes that the influx of migrants wishing to go to the United Kingdom causes “a very difficult situation for the inhabitants of Calais”. “I will carry reforms within the framework of the French presidency of the European Union”, from 1uh January, he says.
“We have the British, who oscillate between partnership and provocation. We need to further strengthen collaboration. If those (migrants) who want to join Britain have family there, it has to be part of family reunification. If they are victims of traffickers, we must break this system, ”he adds.
“Massive investment”
According to the maritime prefecture, around 15,400 migrants attempted the dangerous crossing of the Channel between the 1uh January and August 31, 3,500 of which were recovered in difficulty in the strait and brought back to the French coast.
Emmanuel Macron indicates that he spoke on Wednesday November 17 with the mayor of Calais “to help his city regain its future” and that “new solutions” announced by “several ministers” in “the coming weeks”.
“I hear the concerns of associations and the defender of rights,” he adds, while the two activists from Calais on hunger strike since October 11 in support of migrants announced on Wednesday November 17 the end of their action.
There has been a massive investment in the construction of reception centers for those who wish to initiate procedures in France ”, according to him.
On Wednesday, the main camp of Grande-Synthe, in the North, sheltering “about a thousand people”, was evacuated: 663 migrants were “sheltered”, according to the prefecture of the North.