Johnson and Macron: Sharp tones in the dispute over migrants

Paris is increasingly outraged in the refugee dispute with London. Johnson’s demand to send migrants back to France who come to Great Britain via the English Channel is not a solution – and communication via Twitter is “dubious”.

The political dispute between France and Great Britain after the recent refugee drama in the English Channel is coming to a head. French President Emmanuel Macron has described the behavior of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as “dubious” after the refugee drama in the English Channel.

“I am surprised by such methods,” said Macron at a press conference in Rome. The occasion is a personal letter to Macron, which Johnson then published himself on Twitter. “You don’t communicate about such questions among politicians on Twitter,” said Macron.

It speaks of “new creative ideas” in order to prevent further dramas. Specifically, Johnson proposes an agreement “that allows all migrants who come illegally across the English Channel to be returned”.

The French government spokesman Gabriel Attal pointed out on the broadcaster BFMTV that France had already rescued 7,800 migrants from distress at sea. “The suggestion of repatriation is really not a solution to this problem,” emphasized Attal. “The question is whether Johnson does not regret leaving the EU because whenever there is a problem, he expects the EU to take care of it,” said the government spokesman.

British Home Secretary was unloaded

In response to Johnson’s proposal, the French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin had already unloaded his British colleague, who was supposed to attend a ministerial meeting in Calais on Sunday. The meeting should now only take place with representatives from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the EU Commission.

Johnson’s letter was “disappointing,” wrote Darmanin. “Publishing it made it worse,” he added. British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps appealed to the French to “reconsider”. “No nation can do this alone,” said Shapps, referring to the migration of the BBC.

Consultations between Britain and France are “certainly in the interests of the people who are tragically smuggled into the United Kingdom,” he said. The aim of the meeting is to improve police, legal and humanitarian cooperation and to take more decisive action against people smugglers.

Border patrols, aerial surveillance and exchanges

Johnson had also suggested joint border patrols, aerial surveillance and information sharing in his letter. “We are ready to begin such patrols early next week,” he wrote. France had refused such offers in the past because they were seen as an interference with national sovereignty.

In the accident with the refugee boat in the English Channel, at least 27 people died on Wednesday, including seven women and three young people. According to other refugees, they were primarily Iraqi Kurds, Iranians and Afghans. Two men from Iraq and Somalia survived. The group had left Dunkirk in an inflatable dinghy that was deflating.

Johnson has long accused France of not doing enough against the rapidly increasing number of refugees who are crossing to England in simple boats. The UK’s exit from the EU has also made it more difficult for the British authorities to bring the newcomers back to EU countries.