Xavier Bertrand recently stated that the UK acts as a "permanent attraction" for migrants while demanding increased British financial support and stricter border enforcement.

 

Britain has already pledged £662m to France, with the UK saying cooperation has helped disrupt people-smuggling networks.

Xavier Bertrand recently stated that the UK acts as a "permanent attraction" for migrants while demanding increased British financial support and stricter border enforcement.

Key Context

• Xavier Bertrand's Role: He is the regional president of Hauts-de-France, the region covering the French coast near Calais.
• Financial Demands: Bertrand has urged the British government to provide more funding to help manage and stop migrant crossings in the English Channel.
• The Le Touquet Agreement: This 2003 treaty allows UK border officers to carry out checks on French soil, placing the effective British border control in France.
• Existing Funding: The UK has previously pledged substantial financial packages to assist French authorities with coastal security and anti-smuggling operations.