UK Faces Potential £1 Billion Bill to Renew Migrant Deal with France
French commission head warns of a 40% cost increase if migrant crossings continue, pushing the deal's value over £860 million.
British taxpayers could face a bill approaching £1 billion to renew the United Kingdom's security agreement with France concerning Channel crossings. The head of a French parliamentary commission investigating these agreements, Sebastien Huyghe, stated that the cost could escalate by 40% to over €1 billion (approximately £860 million) if the current volume of migrant attempts to cross the waterway persists.
In April, the UK's Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood finalized a new three-year accord with the French government, valued at £662 million. This agreement superseded a £479 million deal established in 2023 under the previous Conservative government. However, Huyghe indicated that the demands for funding might rise significantly.
"If the situation continues, we could find ourselves demanding a further 40 per cent increase in three years' time, which would bring the total to €1billion," Huyghe said. He expressed doubt about the UK's willingness to accept such escalating costs every three years based solely on the perceived attractiveness of the UK as a destination.
"There is a consensus within this committee that the current situation is unsatisfactory and cannot be allowed to continue for years to come," Huyghe added.
His commission's findings suggest that approximately one-third of all migrants entering the European Union illegally are bound for the UK. This figure is estimated to be around 60,000 out of 170,000 migrants last year. Huyghe attributed this trend to the perceived ease with which migrants can secure refugee status in the UK.
"We have learnt that 71 per cent of those who manage to cross the English Channel or the North Sea are subsequently granted refugee status, which is a huge figure. I understand why they are willing to take every risk," Huyghe noted.
The French politician also called for a review of the 22-year-old Le Touquet agreement, which permits border checks to be conducted in each country before travelers depart. This agreement allows for pre-departure border controls.
A 'mega dinghy' carrying 165 individuals was reported to have crossed the Channel last month, illustrating the ongoing challenges. French police were observed watching as migrants boarded a dinghy from Dunkirk beach on April 13.
