Britain pledges extra 20 mln euros for Calais migrants crisis - French official

Britain pledged an extra 20 million euros (21.75 million US dollars) to bolster security in French port city of Calais where thousands of migrants are camping seeking to cross to Britain via the Channel Tunnel, a government official said on Thursday.

Speaking to radio RFI, Harlem Desir, junior minister in charge of European Affairs, unveiled Britain's plan with a focus on improving "security of the access zone to the tunnel and fighting trafficking networks."

Britain has already devoted 60 million euros to boost security at the entrance and around the Channel Tunnel to abort eventual attempts to get into Britain.

Asked about eventual consequences of the "Brexit" on migrants crisis, Desir said Paris and London's accords on immigration control were "bilateral agreements."

"There is neither blackmail or threat. However, it is true that we cooperate more easily by being EU members than if the United Kingdom was no longer," he added.

Migrant crisis is expected to top the agenda of talks of French President Francois Hollande and visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron later on Thursday in the northern city of Amiens.

During the 34th Franco-British summit, both leaders, accompanied by their foreign, interior and defense ministers, will also discuss counter-terrorism and Syrian civil war.
 (1 euro=1.087 US dollar)
   [Xinhua]
3/3/16
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