French President Emmanuel Macron with Sir Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)
Emmanuel Macron has sensationally claimed the French response to the Channel migrant crisis is “improving”.
The French President insisted “we do our best” despite a record number of small boat crossings in the first half of this year.
And Macron did not deny that Paris is hoping to secure a new deal with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to bolster the hunt for smuggling gangs.
He said, as he arrived in Blenheim Palace for the European Political Community meeting, “It is obviously always a very delicate humanitarian situation so our willingness is constantly to improve the situation.”
Asked again if a deal could be done, Macron said: “This is my point. There is no silver bullet because we do know the situation. We do our best. We did improve the situation during the past few years…”
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President of France Emmanuel Macron before the opening plenary at the European Political Community s (Image: PA)
Macron said there was a need to “prevent this migration before the arrivals in France”.
The French President also told broadcasters that he is “very happy” and “this is a great opportunity for a reset” as Sir Keir looks set to align the UK with the EU.
At least 14,759 migrants have crossed the English Channel so far this year, up from 13,774 at the same point in 2023.
And there are also growing concerns over the failures of the French police to stop the small boats from leaving the French beaches.
Last week a Daily Express photographer witnessed French police once again failing to stop a dinghy from launching, despite the alarming sight of asylum seekers wading out into the water after it.
More than a dozen officers – wearing armour and carrying batons – watched on as the dinghy struggled out into the Channel. They had fired tear gas in a desperate attempt to break the group up.
Dozens of young men dangled their feet over the sides of the boat, with more sitting in the middle on a piece of plywood holding the boat together.
A hooded man, in an apparent bid to conceal his identity, steered the boat.
Sir Keir Starmer said the European Political Community summit was an opportunity to "set a new path on illegal migration" and say "no more" to the "crisis" of people smuggling.
Speaking at the opening plenary, the Prime Minister said: "It is now I think a crisis.
"As we speak, as we gather here, a criminal empire is at work in every country represented here today, profiting off human misery and desperation, prepared to send infants, babies, pregnant mothers, innocent people to their deaths.
"And last week four more souls, and actually last night another one, were lost in the waters of the English Channel - a chilling reminder of the human cost of this vile trade.
"This summit is an opportunity to set a new path on illegal migration, to transform the way that we work together on border security and law enforcement and to say together 'no more'. And in the UK, our new border security command will work in partnership with you. We must combine our resources, share intelligence, share tactics, shut down the smuggling routes, and smash the gangs."
Sir Keir said the "root causes" driving people from their homes, such as conflict, climate change and extreme poverty also needed to be addressed.
New intelligence has suggested that the Kurdish smuggling gangs controlling many of the crossings and beaches in northern France will try and find a migrant with experience of piloting boats across the Mediterranean to steer it across the Channel – in exchange for a free journey.
And the criminals are ordering migrants to delete photos of the camps in northern France so that investigators cannot gain vital clues and intelligence.
President of France, Emmanuel Macron speaks to the media as he arrives to attend the European Politi (Image: PA)
France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) speaks with European Council President Charles Michel prior t (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
New intelligence has suggested that the Kurdish smuggling gangs controlling many of the crossings and beaches in northern France will try and find a migrant with experience of piloting boats across the Mediterranean to steer it across the Channel – in exchange for a free journey.
And the criminals are ordering migrants to delete photos of the camps in northern France so that investigators cannot gain vital clues and intelligence.
Experts from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime said: “They are asked by the smugglers to delete photos and videos of the camp by smugglers, so that British police are unable to accrue evidence; sometimes they are also asked to throw their phones overboard if there is a rescue operation at sea.
“Smugglers used to test the engines out of the water, which damages the cooling system, making it more likely that the engine will malfunction at sea.
“According to Albanian migrants, the captains are usually Kurdish migrants or somebody who can understand the smugglers’ explanation of how to use the boat and its equipment.
“However, according to smugglers, Africans with experience of piloting boats are generally preferred.
“These are recruited if they can provide video proof that they have piloted a boat between Libya and Italy or Morocco and Spain; in return, their passage is free.
“The app Maps.Me, which works offline, is used to navigate on the boat or to reach the dunes.”
The fragmented nature of the smuggling network also contributes to the overcrowding of boats, experts believe.
The GIATOC warned: “The responsibility for such overloading lies with intermediaries hired by the smugglers, not the smugglers themselves.
“Some intermediaries, who are usually Afghan or African, will add extra passengers to the boats and pocket the surplus fare.
“As this often leads to migrant deaths, the runners often face severe repercussions for such activity.”
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The Government is vowing to take more action on smuggling gangs (Image: Getty)
Experts from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime said: “They are asked by the smugglers to delete photos and videos of the camp by smugglers, so that British police are unable to accrue evidence; sometimes they are also asked to throw their phones overboard if there is a rescue operation at sea.
“Smugglers used to test the engines out of the water, which damages the cooling system, making it more likely that the engine will malfunction at sea.
“According to Albanian migrants, the captains are usually Kurdish migrants or somebody who can understand the smugglers’ explanation of how to use the boat and its equipment.
“However, according to smugglers, Africans with experience of piloting boats are generally preferred.
“These are recruited if they can provide video proof that they have piloted a boat between Libya and Italy or Morocco and Spain; in return, their passage is free.
“The app Maps.Me, which works offline, is used to navigate on the boat or to reach the dunes.”
The fragmented nature of the smuggling network also contributes to the overcrowding of boats, experts believe.
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The GIATOC warned: “The responsibility for such overloading lies with intermediaries hired by the smugglers, not the smugglers themselves.
“Some intermediaries, who are usually Afghan or African, will add extra passengers to the boats and pocket the surplus fare.
“As this often leads to migrant deaths, the runners often face severe repercussions for such activity.”
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