The UK prime minister and French president have agreed that tackling the “deteriorating situation” of illegal migration across the Channel should be a key focus of an upcoming summit.
Meeting at the G7 Summit in Canada, Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron affirmed that their respective teams should pursue “high-ambition outcomes” to ensure progress on the issue.
According to a Downing Street spokesperson, they agreed to “work closely with other partners to find innovative ways to drive forward progress.”
919 people crossed the Channel in 14 boats last Friday, pushing the total for the year to just over 16,000. The figure is 42 per cent higher than the same point last year and 79 per cent up on the same date in 2023.
A spokesperson for the Home Office responded: “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.”
Almost 37,000 people made the dangerous trip last year, Home Office figures show.
Migration was one of several topics discussed by the two leaders on the margins of the international summit. They also addressed the conflict in the Middle East, agreeing on the need for G7 partners to focus on finding a “route to peace through diplomacy and dialogue” over the next two days.
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The July UK-France Summit was positioned as an “opportune moment” for the two nations to further enhance their existing defence and security co-operation.
Both leaders looked ahead to discussions on Ukraine at the G7, where they are expected to underscore their “enduring support for securing a just and lasting peace and keeping up the pressure on Putin”, the spokesperson added.
In full, the Downing Street spokesperson commented: “The prime minister met French president Emmanuel Macron at the G7 Summit this afternoon.
“Discussing the Middle East, they both agreed on the need to find a route to peace through diplomacy and dialogue. They agreed that this should be a key focus for G7 partners in the next two days.
“They looked ahead to the upcoming UK-France Summit in July and agreed that their teams should pursue high-ambition outcomes that deliver for the British and French people.
“Migration should be a key focus given the deteriorating situation in the Channel, they confirmed — adding that they should continue to work closely with other partners to find innovative ways to drive forward progress.
“They also agreed that the summit presents an opportune moment to further enhance our existing defence and security co-operation.
“Both leaders looked ahead to discussing Ukraine at the G7 tomorrow and underscored their enduring support for securing a just and lasting peace and keeping up the pressure on Putin.”
Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on Bluesky here.
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