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Theresa May meets Macron with pledge of extra £44m for border Macron hails new UK-France Calais treaty
(about 1 hour later)
Theresa May has paid tribute to the "strong and deep relationship" between France and the UK as President Macron began his first visit to Britain. France and the UK have signed a treaty to speed up the processing of migrants in Calais, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on his first UK visit.
The prime minister said both leaders remained committed to the "Le Touquet" border agreement in Calais. After talks with Prime Minister Theresa May at Sandhurst military academy, he said the time taken would fall from six months to one for adults and to 25 days for children.
The French president said a new treaty would speed up the processing of adult and child migrants at Calais. He hoped loaning the Bayeux Tapestry to the UK would boost cultural links.
It comes as the UK announced an extra £44.5m to be spent on beefing up Channel border security. Mrs May praised the "uniquely close relationship" between the two nations.
The money will be spent on fencing, CCTV and infrared detection technology in Calais and other border points. She said both leaders remained committed to the "Le Touquet" border agreement in Calais - the UK has announced an extra £44.5m to be spent on beefing up Channel border security.
But Emmanuel Macron said the Sandhurst Treaty would mean the time taken to deal with adult migrants would fall from six months to one, and for children to 25 days. Mr Macron said the Sandhurst Treaty signed on Thursday - the first joint treaty on the Calais border in 15 years - would "enable us to improve the relationship and the management of the joint border" and reduce the time taken to process migrants.
Mrs May spoke in French at a press conference to welcome Mr Macron to the UK and praised the "uniquely close relationship between two of the world's oldest and greatest democracies". It "will enable us both to have a more humane approach to these people and to be more efficient" while also encouraging trade through the Channel ports, said the president.
Mrs May said it was in Britain's national interest, as well as France's, to commit more resources to Calais to boost border security.
She spoke briefly in French at a press conference to welcome Mr Macron to the UK, and stressed joint commitments to defence and security measures.
She said they must demonstrate leadership on military matters and said a combined joint expeditionary force would be ready to deploy up to 10,000 troops "quickly and effectively to face any threat" by 2020.She said they must demonstrate leadership on military matters and said a combined joint expeditionary force would be ready to deploy up to 10,000 troops "quickly and effectively to face any threat" by 2020.
'New chapter''New chapter'
And the prime minister said a multi-million pound deal to build 36 A380 passenger aircraft for Emirates Airlines had been signed by Airbus, which has plants in France and the UK.And the prime minister said a multi-million pound deal to build 36 A380 passenger aircraft for Emirates Airlines had been signed by Airbus, which has plants in France and the UK.
She also confirmed that the Bayeux Tapestry will come to the UK in 2022 - a gesture President Macron said he hoped would "open a new chapter when it comes to our cultural cooperation and scientific co-operation". She also confirmed that the Bayeux Tapestry will come to the UK in 2022 - a gesture President Macron said he hoped would "open a new chapter when it comes to our cultural co-operation and scientific co-operation".
He said Brexit would not "impact on the quality" of the UK-France relationship. "We are making a new tapestry together," he said.
The summit between Mrs May and Mr Macron, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Berkshire, also featured the first meeting of the heads of Britain and France's five intelligence agencies, and is being attended by UK cabinet ministers and their French counterparts. He said Brexit would not "impact on the quality" of the UK-France relationship or the close co-operation between the two countries.
The summit between Mrs May and Mr Macron, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Berkshire, also featured the first meeting of the heads of Britain and France's five intelligence agencies, and is being attended by British cabinet ministers and their French counterparts.
And with Brexit very much on the agenda for both nations, Mr Macron said that the history between the two countries could not be "impacted by changes in institutions" and that they were "facing common challenges" in the years ahead.
Challenged about his opposition to including financial services in any EU-UK free trade agreement, he said: "I am here neither to punish nor to reward. I want to make sure that the single market is preserved because that is very much the heart of the EU."
He said if the UK wanted access to the single market, including financial services, "you need to contribute to the budget and acknowledge European jurisdiction".
Mrs May said she recognised that there would be "a different relationship in future" but added that a good economic relationship was in both the UK and EU's interests.
"I think the City of London will continue to be a major global financial centre. That is an advantage not just for the UK, it's actually good for Europe and good for the global financial system," she said.
Anglo-French cooperation
Other commitments being unveiled include the deployment of three RAF Chinook helicopters in Mali, where French forces are fighting Islamist militants, and France sending more troops to reinforce a British contingent in Estonia on Nato's border with Russia.
Downing Street said the RAF Chinooks would offer a "niche capability", providing logistical support for the French operation in Mali, but that Britain would not be committing combat troops.
Mr Macron also announced the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry for display in the UK in 2022.
The border offerThe border offer
During last year's French election campaign, Mr Macron said he wanted to renegotiate or scrap the 2003 Le Touquet agreement, which established French border controls in Britain and UK controls in Calais.During last year's French election campaign, Mr Macron said he wanted to renegotiate or scrap the 2003 Le Touquet agreement, which established French border controls in Britain and UK controls in Calais.
The agreement means undocumented migrants barred from entering the UK stay in France - many in makeshift camps. Up to 700 migrants are in the area, despite the camp known as the "Jungle" having been dismantled in 2016.The agreement means undocumented migrants barred from entering the UK stay in France - many in makeshift camps. Up to 700 migrants are in the area, despite the camp known as the "Jungle" having been dismantled in 2016.
The UK government is already thought to have spent over £100m on security in the area over the last three years, and officials said the number of illegal attempts to enter the UK fell from 80,000 in 2015 to just over 30,000 last year.The UK government is already thought to have spent over £100m on security in the area over the last three years, and officials said the number of illegal attempts to enter the UK fell from 80,000 in 2015 to just over 30,000 last year.
A UK government spokeswoman said the latest investment was "about investing in and enhancing the security of the UK border".
Other "juxtaposed" border controls are in operation at Eurostar stations in France and Belgium.Other "juxtaposed" border controls are in operation at Eurostar stations in France and Belgium.
Some Conservatives are not happySome Conservatives are not happy
Dover MP Charlie Elphicke told the BBC the UK should not be "footing the entire bill for the French border at Calais" after it leaves the EU.Dover MP Charlie Elphicke told the BBC the UK should not be "footing the entire bill for the French border at Calais" after it leaves the EU.
Fellow backbencher Andrew Rosindell said: "It is their problem as much as it is ours and it should not be a situation where we keep funding France every time they demand more cash.Fellow backbencher Andrew Rosindell said: "It is their problem as much as it is ours and it should not be a situation where we keep funding France every time they demand more cash.
"I'm all for cooperation with our neighbours, with our friends in France but, at the end of the day, this is British money and it has to be used in a tangible way to benefit Britain.""I'm all for cooperation with our neighbours, with our friends in France but, at the end of the day, this is British money and it has to be used in a tangible way to benefit Britain."
Summit mood musicSummit mood music
Mrs May and Mr Macron had lunch at a gastro pub and then inspected a guard of honour from the Coldstream Guards, in the freezing rain, at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, the venue for their talks.Mrs May and Mr Macron had lunch at a gastro pub and then inspected a guard of honour from the Coldstream Guards, in the freezing rain, at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, the venue for their talks.
Senior ministers Boris Johnson, Philip Hammond and Amber Rudd also endured a soaking as they looked on.Senior ministers Boris Johnson, Philip Hammond and Amber Rudd also endured a soaking as they looked on.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Mrs May said: "Today's summit will underline that we remain committed to defending our people and upholding our values as liberal democracies in the face of any threat, whether at home or abroad.
"But our friendship has always gone far beyond defence and security and the scope of today's discussions represents its broad and unique nature."
Laurence Haim, a former adviser to Mr Macron told the BBC's Newshour the French president likes Theresa May and speaks fluent English, but will want to make it clear to her that he will not give any ground over Brexit.Laurence Haim, a former adviser to Mr Macron told the BBC's Newshour the French president likes Theresa May and speaks fluent English, but will want to make it clear to her that he will not give any ground over Brexit.
How the leaders shape upHow the leaders shape up
By BBC diplomatic correspondent James RobbinsBy BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins
Britain and France carry much the same weight in global affairs. Both sit at the world's most exclusive tables of power - the Security Council and the G7 - and the sizes of their populations and economies are broadly similar too.Britain and France carry much the same weight in global affairs. Both sit at the world's most exclusive tables of power - the Security Council and the G7 - and the sizes of their populations and economies are broadly similar too.
But while President Macron commands France, including his parliament, after last year's stunning electoral successes - the same cannot be said of Theresa May.But while President Macron commands France, including his parliament, after last year's stunning electoral successes - the same cannot be said of Theresa May.
Sharp disagreements over the UK border with France are difficult to resolve. Mrs May has conceded extra money for border security in Calais - and has separately offered Chinook helicopters to move French troops more safely over Mali.Sharp disagreements over the UK border with France are difficult to resolve. Mrs May has conceded extra money for border security in Calais - and has separately offered Chinook helicopters to move French troops more safely over Mali.
Mr Macron, meanwhile, has offered the loan of the Bayeux tapestry. But Brexit still threatens to overshadow all this bonhomie. When it comes to Europe, these two countries are pulling in radically different directions.Mr Macron, meanwhile, has offered the loan of the Bayeux tapestry. But Brexit still threatens to overshadow all this bonhomie. When it comes to Europe, these two countries are pulling in radically different directions.
Anglo-French cooperation
Other commitments being unveiled include the deployment of three RAF Chinook helicopters in Mali, where French forces are fighting Islamist militants, and France sending more troops to reinforce a British contingent in Estonia on Nato's border with Russia.
Downing Street said the RAF Chinooks would offer a "niche capability", providing logistical support for the French operation in Mali, but that Britain would not be committing combat troops.
Mr Macron also announced the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry for display in the UK in 2022.
UK opposition leader's reaction to the summitUK opposition leader's reaction to the summit