French Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleauand his British counterpart, Yvette Cooperthey found this Thursday in Pas-de-Calais to address the current migratory challenges facing the region, and raising an update of the Tourquet agreement, signed by the two countries in 2003, and that for France seems to be obsolete.
“We are defending not only a border between the United Kingdom and France, but also, one of the largest exterior borders in Europe, than It covers 30% of irregular immigration throughout Europe. (…) Now, it has become a rarestrlanted place and, unfortunately, none of the migratory mechanisms after Brexit has been rebuilt, “said Retailleau, who announced a reinforcement of the police presence on the beaches and cities from Pas-de-Calais (northern France). Especially in the coming months, that before the arrival of good weather, there is an explosion of crosses from the Channel of La Mancha.
He United Kingdomon the other hand, It will provide more financing to maritime rescue equipment, the Departmental Fire Service and Rescue of the Paso de Calais (SDIS) to house rescued people.
According to the figures announced by Retailleau, during the first seven weeks of 2025, Cruce’s attempts fell 41% and the number of migrants who managed to cross decreased 32%. Some figures that are “the fruit of all the mobilization,” insisted the Interior Minister congratulating the forces of the French order, but emphasizing that it is a task that Europe must also assume: “About 12% of the interventions of the defense services are dedicated very specifically to the rescue of migrants. Either in the sea or on earth, 6,756 migrants were rescued in 2024. It is not normal that the expenses related to The rescue of migrants has to be assumed by the French Defense Ministry. ”
In 2024, the French authorities reported at least 89 deaths when trying to cross the channel and that same year there were an average of 30,000 crosses, according to various sources.
A problem at sea and on land
A problem for France that also enchanted on the mainland, with the settlements of migrants along the kilometer beaches of Pas-de-Calais, where dozens of people expect the perfect time for the United Kingdom.
Settlements that were growing until 2016, when the French government established a plan to dismantle the known as “Jungla de Calais”, which had become a Field of more than 8,000 shacks. However, far from being a solution, the prefecture denounces that the settlements have now divided and are dispersed throughout the coast.
To avoid the proliferation of these camps, Retailleau announced a reinforcement of patrols in public transport in urban areas of Calais, Dunkerque and the region, and an improvement in infrastructure of police forces destined to the fight against irregular migration and human trafficking. In addition, France will create a 2026 finance bill, with a compensation fund for farmers who have suffered damage to their farms due to the presence of migrants.
Algeria
This Thursday’s encounter between France and the United Kingdom in Pas-de-Calais has reduced tensions on the immigration issue that both countries dragged in recent months. Retailleau challenged the United Kingdom With denouncing Tourquet agreements, which seek to strengthen borders, if “things did not progress.” Finally, this Thursday there was no talk of a modification of this agreement, but the countries approached positions about the need to join efforts in the fight against irregular migration,
Not only in the north with the United Kingdom, also France squeezes in the south with Algeria. Galas authorities are reviewing migratory pacts with other countries to reduce this problem, which have already become The maximum concern of the French.
The port of Marseille is the main entrance for Algerian migration and after the latest diplomatic incidents, related to Algeria’s refusal to host its deported citizens of France, the prime minister convened on Wednesday an interministerial committee, where he announced that “France will ask the Algerian government to reexamine all agreements” on immigration “and the way in which they apply.”
François Bayrou has given a period of “one month and six weeks” so that Algeria review the 1968 agreements, that according to the prime minister “he is not respecting.” During that time, it will be presented to Algiers “A substantial and urgent list “of” particularly sensitive people “that the French state wishes to expel. If this request is not heard, Bayrou threatened to eliminate “the special advantages” and the agreements granted to the country.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot went further and expressed his desire to propose to European countries to limit the always To those citizens who come from countries that do not accept expulsions, as is the case of Algeria.
