麻豆传媒映画

[Article updated on November 8 at 12:45 with further details on the proposed deal.]

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that he hopes that his country and France can 鈥渃ooperate closely鈥� with each other on issues surrounding immigration, as a plan on tackling small boat crossings reportedly nears completion.

Mr Sunak met with President Emmanuel Macron for the first time at the COP27 UN climate summit in Egypt yesterday (November 7).

Mr Sunak said: 鈥淚t was great to meet with President Macron to speak not only about the fight against illegal immigration but also about other matters in which we want to cooperate closely with the French.鈥�

Mr Sunak also said that he was leaving the COP27 summit with "renewed confidence and optimism" and that by working with the French "we can make a difference, grip this challenge of illegal migration and stop people coming illegally."

The two leaders had already agreed during a phone conversation at the end of October that they would work more closely together on the subject of immigration, as the number of people having made the Channel crossing in small boats since the beginning of the year nears a record 40,000.

Mr Sunak added that the issue is a 鈥渃omplex problem鈥� which 鈥渨ill not be resolved in one evening鈥�.

However, an announcement on the results of cross-Channel talks is expected in the coming weeks. A government spokesperson that a deal between the UK and France 鈥渉as been discussed and is in its final stages鈥�.

It is thought that this plan could involve Border Force and immigration intelligence officers joining French police patrols as "observers"in order to help double the number of people who are prevented from leaving France in small boats from the current proportion of 42%.

A "joint control centre" operating patrols, drones and satellites could also be established, reports. The deal is expected to see the UK invest tens of millions of pounds.

鈥淚 think that there is an opportunity to be seized to work together, not only with France but also with other countries,鈥� Mr Sunak said.

The 脡lys茅e Palace simply said Mr Sunak and Mr Macron would 鈥渞emain in contact to make progress on coordination between the two countries in the face of illegal immigration.鈥�

Mr Macron has invited Mr Sunak to attend a conference in Paris on the situation in Ukraine on December 13.

Mr Sunak became prime minister on October 25, after his predecessor Liz Truss resigned on October 20.

Since he took office, his government has come under pressure with regards to the living conditions inside the migrant detention centre in Manston (Kent), and over the weekend, a group of detainees armed with weapons at the Harmondsworth centre near Heathrow caused a 鈥渄isturbance鈥� which led to a power outage.

Labour leader Keir Starmer has called on Mr Sunak to 鈥済et a grip鈥� and fix his government鈥檚 鈥渂roken鈥� asylum system at last week鈥檚 Prime Minister鈥檚 Questions.

He also said that the prime minister should get a 鈥減roper home secretary鈥� to replace Suella Braverman, although Mr Sunak insisted that she is taking 鈥渟ignificant steps鈥� in response to the problem.

Related articles

鈥楩rance-UK 鈥榙茅tente鈥� only possible if Northern Ireland issue resolved鈥�

UK PM Liz Truss decides President Macron is a 鈥榝riend鈥� after all

France urged to follow as UK launches ferry fair pay law after P&O row