03 March 2016•Update: 04 March 2016
PARIS
Britain will give 20 million euros [$22 million] to help France boost security at Calais and build shelters for refugees evacuated from the ‘Jungle’ camp, according to a new deal.
A text was signed Thursday at an Anglo-French summit in Amiens aiming to secure the northern French port area and control access to the Channel Tunnel.
Thousands of refugees and migrants are already in the area, with many trying to use the tunnel to illegally enter the U.K.
Today’s deal will also serve to manage shelters for migrants throughout France and to push away economic migrants which are deemed “not in need of protection”.
“Calais and the surrounding areas, including Dunkirk, are suffering because of the refugee crisis,” French President Francois Hollande said at a joint news conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron following the summit.
He said there are fewer migrants and refugees in Calais than there were a few weeks ago and “those who remain should be treated with dignity”.
The French authorities have started to demolish and evacuate the southern part of the ‘Jungle’ Calais camp with 3,450 residents – including 300 unaccompanied children.
Tension between riot police and refugees and activists has been high. A group of 12 Iranian refugees sewed their lips shut on Wednesday and started a hunger strike to protest the forced move.
Almost 5,500 refugees reside in the camp, according to U.K.-based NGO Calais Action.
“I applaud what the French are doing at Calais, and the action they have taken with the camps,” Cameron said.
“Hollande [French President] has my 100 percent backing over this,” he added.
The British premier said unaccompanied children with direct family in Britain can apply for asylum in France and come to the U.K.
“That is the rule under the Dublin convention. But this will be clarified,” he said.
The French president said his country has done “its utmost to receive those who have the right to asylum” but there are some people “who don’t want to stay in France, and others not allowed to stay in France”.
Regarding refugees trying to reach the U.K., if Britain decides not to take them “access will be closed,” Hollande said.
He said unaccompanied children with family in the U.K. must go there and “they must go quickly”.
Hollande said the European Council will meet on Monday will discuss the refugee crisis.
“We should play our part ... we must support Greece with migrant hotspots," He said.
Commenting on Britain’s referendum on its EU membership, due on June 23, Hollande said he hopes “ the UK remains in Europe; it is in the interests of the UK, it is in the interests of Europe.”
Asked what will happen in case of a Brexit, he said “there will be consequences”, including relating to the Calais situation, without giving further details.
"I don't want to scare you, I just want to tell the truth. There will be consequences if Britain leaves the EU," he said.
Earlier today, French economy minister Emmanuel Macron warned that a Brexit could ‘scupper’ Franco-U.K. border controls, moving the ‘Jungle’ refugee camp from Calais to the British side of the English Channel.
