The British government said Monday October 11 that it would give France "
in the coming weeks
" the money promised to fight against the smuggling of migrants from the French coasts, a source of tension between the two countries.
Read alsoThe influx of migrants stirs up tension between Paris and London
When asked by the BBC, British Home Secretary Damian Hinds said it was an "
administrative process
" rather than a "
political issue
" that had delayed getting the money by France.
Crossings that multiply
During a trip on Saturday to Loon-Plage, in northern France, the French Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin asked the British government to honor its commitment to pay France 62.7 million euros in 2021-2022 to finance the strengthening of French law enforcement agencies on the coasts. "
We call on the British to keep their promise of funding since we hold the border for them,
" he said. Gérald Darmanin had also requested that a migration treaty be negotiated between the EU and the United Kingdom.
Since the end of 2018, illegal crossings of the Channel by migrants seeking to reach the United Kingdom have increased despite repeated warnings from the authorities who highlight the danger linked to the density of traffic, strong currents and the low temperature of the water.
Last week, 1,115 migrants were rescued or intercepted by the British authorities in 48 hours.
The British government has started to pass a controversial bill reforming the asylum system and providing for tougher penalties, increasing to life in prison, from the current 14 years, the maximum penalty for smugglers.