Rishi Sunak has agreed a deal with French President Emmanuel Macron to tackle illegal immigration that will see the UK pay almost half a billion pounds over the next three years, with a new detention centre to be established in France.
In a first joint summit in over five years the Prime Minister said that Criminal gangs should not get to decide who comes to our countries”
President Macron explained the steps he and Rishi Sunak have taken to reduce small boat crossings by heightening ‘surveillance abilities and strengthen multi-year funding’
When asked whether a deal will be made on migrants leaving France for the UK to be returned to France Sunak said:
“It’s a shared challenge… our partnership is incredibly strong”
French President Emmanuel Macron says “we focus on what we have to do in the short run” when asked if a deal would be struck on migrants arriving in the UK would be returned to France
Sunak said during the news conference that he was “very fortunate to serving alongside” French President Emmanuel Macron and “incredibly excited about the future that we can build together” and personally thanked French President for his “gracious” words following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, adding:
“They said everything about you as a leader and a friend of Britain”
Macron hailed a “new beginning” for the UK’s relationship with France, and welcomes Rishi Sunak’s “resolve to reengage with the EU”.
He says the nations will “work together and build concrete solutions”.
The Prime Minister also said that “The UK and France are working together so that never again can the likes of Putin weaponise our energy security.”
adding that the UK has agreed an “ambitious new energy partnership” with France.
President Macron said how both he and Rishi Sunak are doing everything to make sure the war doesn’t spread globally as they aim to build ‘lasting and acceptable peace’
