Boris Johnson calls on France to agree to 'take back' people who cross Channel
November 26, 2021, 1:13 am

Boris Johnson

The BBC reported, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called on France to agree to "take back" people who cross the Channel to the UK.

The PM said he had written to French President Emmanuel Macron setting out five steps to "move further and faster" to avoid a repeat of Wednesday's tragedy where 27 people died.

He added that a returns agreement for those who cross the Channel would have an "immediate and significant impact".

Earlier a government source said the UK and France had held "positive" talks.

Mr Johnson tweeted that the five steps he had set out were:

joint patrols to prevent more boats from leaving French beaches

deploying more advanced technology, like sensors and radar

reciprocal maritime patrols in each other's territorial waters and airborne surveillance

deepening the work of the countries' joint intelligence cell

immediate work on a bilateral returns agreement with France, alongside talks to establish a UK-EU returns agreement.

Mr Johnson said: "An agreement with France to take back migrants who cross the Channel through this dangerous route would have an immediate and significant impact."

The BBC said, British officials are travelling to France later on Thursday to meet their equivalents and talk about how they can better work together.

It noted that, the Home Office said Home Secretary Priti Patel and her French opposite number, Gerald Darmanin, will meet on Sunday.

Source: BBC

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