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French election and Brexit loom over closure of Calais refugee camp French election and Brexit loom over closure of Calais refugee camp
(35 minutes later)
The closure of the Calais refugee camp is largely being driven by French domestic politics, and any long-term solution is likely to be dependent on the outcome of next year’s presidential election.The closure of the Calais refugee camp is largely being driven by French domestic politics, and any long-term solution is likely to be dependent on the outcome of next year’s presidential election.
Although the French have made strenuous efforts to provide the refugees with alternative accommodation in France, such is the pull factor of the English language and the prospect of work that there is no guarantee that another camp will not form near another ferry terminal in the region. Although the French have made strenuous efforts to provide refugees with alternative accommodation in France, such is the pull factor of the English language and the prospect of work that there is no guarantee that another camp will not form near another ferry terminal in the region.
As a result, the presidential candidates are vying to come up with longer-term solutions to the refugee crisis in north-west France, including the candidates of the right demanding a rewriting the Le Touquet treaty signed in 2003 by the then UK home Secretary, David Blunkett, and French interior minister, Nicholas Sarkozy. The treaty ensures the British undertake their border checks on French soil. As a result, the presidential candidates are vying to come up with longer-term solutions to the refugee crisis in north-west France, including the candidates of the right demanding a rewriting the Le Touquet treaty signed in 2003 by the then UK home secretary, David Blunkett, and French interior minister, Nicholas Sarkozy. The treaty ensures the British undertake their border checks on French soil.
There are many votes to be harvested in northern France, and few on the right are going to lose votes in the region by promising to tear up the treaty. For some in northern France, Calais has become a cause and a symbol of the region’s economic malaise.There are many votes to be harvested in northern France, and few on the right are going to lose votes in the region by promising to tear up the treaty. For some in northern France, Calais has become a cause and a symbol of the region’s economic malaise.
The danger is that the negotiations over the future of the bilateral treaty bleed into the wider discussions about Brexit, likely to start in earnest in the middle of next year.The danger is that the negotiations over the future of the bilateral treaty bleed into the wider discussions about Brexit, likely to start in earnest in the middle of next year.
The French are likely to be the most influential voice calling for a tough line if the UK opts for a hard Brexit, and the possible tearing up of Le Touquet is a piece of potent armoury in the French negotiator’s locker. Equally, no agreement has yet been reached, for instance, about the rights of UK citizens in France, or indeed the many French citizens in the UK – an issue on which the French ambassador Sylvie Bermann will be questioned by a Lords select Committee this week. The French are likely to be the most influential voice calling for a tough line if the UK opts for a hard Brexit, and the possible tearing up of Le Touquet is a piece of potent armoury in the French negotiator’s locker. Equally, no agreement has yet been reached, for instance, about the rights of UK citizens in France, or indeed the many French citizens in the UK – an issue on which the French ambassador Sylvie Bermann will be questioned by a Lords select committee this week.
The Anglo-French security relationship is very close, and a breakdown over border controls could have wider ramifications.The Anglo-French security relationship is very close, and a breakdown over border controls could have wider ramifications.
With the French right’s primary due to take place at the end of November, Alain Juppé, increasingly the favourite to become the next French president, says he wants a complete renegotiation of the Treaty that ensures UK police undertake border checks on French soil. With the French right’s primary due to take place at the end of November, Alain Juppé, increasingly the favourite to become the next French president, says he wants a complete renegotiation of the treaty that ensures UK police undertake border checks on French soil.
In an interview with the Guardian last week, he said: “We can’t tolerate what is going on in Calais, the image is disastrous for our country and there are also extremely serious economic and security consequences for the people of Calais.”In an interview with the Guardian last week, he said: “We can’t tolerate what is going on in Calais, the image is disastrous for our country and there are also extremely serious economic and security consequences for the people of Calais.”
Sarkozy has said he will be in the UK the day after he is elected to demand the treaty is rewritten.Sarkozy has said he will be in the UK the day after he is elected to demand the treaty is rewritten.
It is likely that Xavier Bertrand, president of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie region and one of the few French politicians focused on a long-term solution, will act as an adviser to Juppé on Calais, or even Sarkozy.It is likely that Xavier Bertrand, president of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie region and one of the few French politicians focused on a long-term solution, will act as an adviser to Juppé on Calais, or even Sarkozy.
He told the Guardian British responsibilities were not limited to providing cash for better security in Calais but has spoken about UK cooperation in the removal of refused asylum seekers, including jointly organised flights of refused asylum seekers back to their countries of origin. The same call has been taken up by up by François Fillon, another candidate for the right. He told the Guardian that British responsibilities were not limited to providing cash for better security in Calais, but has spoken about UK cooperation in the removal of refused asylum seekers, including jointly organised flights of refused asylum seekers back to their countries of origin. The same call has been taken up by up by François Fillon, another candidate for the right.
Bernard Cazeneuve, the French interior minister and a socialist, is more cautious. In an interview with la Voix du Nord, he said “Challenging Le Touquet agreements by moving the border to the English coast would reopen the border we closed in Calais, and so give a strong signal to smugglers and migrants to return en masse there. It would start again from scratch.” Bernard Cazeneuve, the French interior minister and a socialist, is more cautious. In an interview with la Voix du Nord, he said: “Challenging Le Touquet agreements by moving the border to the English coast would reopen the border we closed in Calais, and so give a strong signal to smugglers and migrants to return en masse there. It would start again from scratch.”
The French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, argues: “If the border is moved to the other side of the channel, as some suggest, we’ll have to put out boats to rescue people who will be in the water.” The French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, argued: “If the border is moved to the other side of the Channel, as some suggest, we’ll have to put out boats to rescue people who will be in the water.”
Cazeneuve insists that unlike 2003 when the Sangatte camp was destroyed in a short-term operation, a comprehensive strategy is in place. This includes dispersal of refugees to regional camps, securing the tunnel, a crackdown on 33 illegal immigration routes and the maintenance of a stronger police presence on the French coast. Cazeneuve insists that unlike 2003, when the Sangatte camp was destroyed in a short-term operation, a comprehensive strategy is in place. This includes dispersal of refugees to regional camps, securing the tunnel, a crackdown on 33 illegal immigration routes and the maintenance of a stronger police presence on the French coast.
But if this does not work, the call for more drastic action will grow ever louder during the presidential campaign.But if this does not work, the call for more drastic action will grow ever louder during the presidential campaign.