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Theresa May meets Macron with pledge of extra £44m for border | Theresa May meets Macron with pledge of extra £44m for border |
(35 minutes later) | |
Emmanuel Macron is in the UK for talks with Theresa May on his first visit since becoming French president. | |
It comes as the UK announced an extra £44.5m to be spent beefing up Channel border security. | |
The money will be spent on fencing, CCTV and infrared detection technology in Calais and other border points. | The money will be spent on fencing, CCTV and infrared detection technology in Calais and other border points. |
Britain is also expected to commit to taking more migrants from Calais, especially unaccompanied children, the BBC understands. | Britain is also expected to commit to taking more migrants from Calais, especially unaccompanied children, the BBC understands. |
The summit between Mrs May and Mr Macron, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Berkshire, also features 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. | The summit between Mrs May and Mr Macron, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Berkshire, also features 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. |
The BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said that while Britain and France were heading in different directions as a result of Brexit, both governments were keen to show that they would continue to work closely together. | The BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said that while Britain and France were heading in different directions as a result of Brexit, both governments were keen to show that they would continue to work closely together. |
The border offer | The 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". | 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 happy | Some 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 music | Summit mood music |
Mrs May and Mr Macron had lunch at a gastro pub and then inspected a guard of honour from the Coldstream Guards 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. | 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." | "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 up | How the leaders shape up |
By BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins | By 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 | 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. | 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. | 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 is also expected to announce the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry for display in the UK. | |
UK opposition leader's reaction to the summit | UK opposition leader's reaction to the summit |
The security issue | The security issue |
By BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner | By BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner |
Britain and France have an incredibly close partnership in confronting the shared threat of terrorist attacks inspired or directed by so-called Islamic State. | Britain and France have an incredibly close partnership in confronting the shared threat of terrorist attacks inspired or directed by so-called Islamic State. |
So close, in fact, that this is the first ever meeting of "The Quint" - the heads of all five British and French spy agencies, both domestic and foreign. | So close, in fact, that this is the first ever meeting of "The Quint" - the heads of all five British and French spy agencies, both domestic and foreign. |
They will be discussing, among other things, the lessons learnt from last year's terror attacks in Manchester, Barcelona and London. | They will be discussing, among other things, the lessons learnt from last year's terror attacks in Manchester, Barcelona and London. |
There is a permanent "open door" for French intelligence officers who need to visit MI5 headquarters at Thames House in London and a similar arrangement exists for British case officers visiting France's equivalent, the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Intérieure (DGSI). | There is a permanent "open door" for French intelligence officers who need to visit MI5 headquarters at Thames House in London and a similar arrangement exists for British case officers visiting France's equivalent, the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Intérieure (DGSI). |
MI5 officers were rushed to Paris in the wake of the 2015 Bataclan attack to help follow up intelligence leads and glean any possible lessons. | MI5 officers were rushed to Paris in the wake of the 2015 Bataclan attack to help follow up intelligence leads and glean any possible lessons. |
Read more from Frank | Read more from Frank |
BBC Monitoring: What the French papers say | BBC Monitoring: What the French papers say |
France's centre-left Le Monde says President Macron will make "more modest demands" of Theresa May on the migrant issue, compared to his earlier proposal to have Britain deal with migrants on its own soil. | France's centre-left Le Monde says President Macron will make "more modest demands" of Theresa May on the migrant issue, compared to his earlier proposal to have Britain deal with migrants on its own soil. |
It also notes that Mrs May is in a "difficult position" over Brexit talks with Brussels, and France can always return to the "Calais issue as a bargaining chip". | It also notes that Mrs May is in a "difficult position" over Brexit talks with Brussels, and France can always return to the "Calais issue as a bargaining chip". |
Centre-right Le Figaro sees the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry as a symbolic "two-pronged diplomatic gesture" that has both delighted Britain and shown that President Macron wants to "strengthen the Paris-London axis" despite Britain leaving the European Union. | Centre-right Le Figaro sees the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry as a symbolic "two-pronged diplomatic gesture" that has both delighted Britain and shown that President Macron wants to "strengthen the Paris-London axis" despite Britain leaving the European Union. |
The left-wing daily Liberation also sees the two leaders "sweeping their differences under the carpet... despite tensions over Brexit", in the interests of defence cooperation and Britain indicating that "it will continue to play a key role in Europe". | The left-wing daily Liberation also sees the two leaders "sweeping their differences under the carpet... despite tensions over Brexit", in the interests of defence cooperation and Britain indicating that "it will continue to play a key role in Europe". |
The Catholic paper La Croix sees defence and migrants as the key issues at the summit, over which "the shadow of Brexit hovers". | The Catholic paper La Croix sees defence and migrants as the key issues at the summit, over which "the shadow of Brexit hovers". |
Like the rest of the press, it is sure that both leaders will want to affirm the "continuing relevance of bilateral cooperation between France and the United Kingdom despite Brexit". | Like the rest of the press, it is sure that both leaders will want to affirm the "continuing relevance of bilateral cooperation between France and the United Kingdom despite Brexit". |