France demands UK take responsibility for channel border security

On November 29, 2024, in France, the interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, expressed strong criticism towards the UK's approach to Channel border security. He stated that Britain could no longer rely on France to handle border security unilaterally, highlighting the rising tensions surrounding the issue of migration across the English Channel. Retailleau's remarks come in the wake of a worrying statistic: 72 people have died attempting to reach Britain from northern France this year, marking 2024 as the deadliest year for such crossings since they intensified in 2018. This alarming death toll adds urgency to the discussions on border security. Retailleau, who is known for his hardline stance, is scheduled to meet his British counterpart on December 9, yet he indicated a possibility of canceling a 2004 agreement between France and the UK which allowed for passport controls on French soil. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive EU-UK deal that clarifies responsibilities regarding border security, suggesting that the border between the two nations should be viewed as a shared concern among all European nations, not just a unilateral French issue. The minister articulated that France has been shouldering an unfair burden and insisted that the UK must play its part, along with other European partners, to alleviate the problem. He strongly condemned the notion of financial agreements for silence on the matter, stating that financial incentives would not resolve the deeper issues at hand. With Brexit contributing to the deterioration of immigration cooperation, Retailleau warned that if a showdown over border security occurs, France is prepared to confront the situation head-on. He hopes for a more equitable partnership between the nations moving forward, indicating that the status quo is no longer sustainable.