Calais crisis: UK and France set to agree strategy today

A strategy to tackle the migrant crisis in Calais is set to be agreed by the UK and France today.

Home Secretary Theresa May will join her French counterpart, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, at Coquelles on the edges of Calais to discuss a deal. Insiders expect it will include tighter security measures.

They will also meet with aid associations to discuss humanitarian support for the migrants.

This summer thousands of migrants have attempted to travel to the UK through the Channel Tunnel from makeshift camps around Calais.

Earlier this month, the UK pledged to add €10m (£7m) to a fund desginated to secure the port of Calais. The fund was established in September 2014 and was initially granted €15m (£10.5m) over three years.

Today's meeting comes after officials said yesterday that the number of migrants arriving at the EU's borders is at a record high. Germany has seen a surge in migration from Syria as people flee ISIS. The German government now expects to receive up to 750,000 asylum seekers this year.

Last year the UK received 31,400 asylum applications, the majority of which were refused.

related articles
\'I prayed for him and I knew he\'d met God\'. Retired vicar\'s ministry to Calais migrants
'I prayed for him and I knew he'd met God'. Retired vicar's ministry to Calais migrants

'I prayed for him and I knew he'd met God'. Retired vicar's ministry to Calais migrants

Calais: How the migrant crisis shames Britain, and what we ought to do about it
Calais: How the migrant crisis shames Britain, and what we ought to do about it

Calais: How the migrant crisis shames Britain, and what we ought to do about it

Songs of Praise in Calais: Finally the media listens to migrants themselves

Songs of Praise in Calais: Finally the media listens to migrants themselves

Songs of Praise in Calais: Migrant priest fears for his family if his face is shown

Songs of Praise in Calais: Migrant priest fears for his family if his face is shown

UK Church leaders attack Government for Calais failures
UK Church leaders attack Government for Calais failures

UK Church leaders attack Government for Calais failures

News
Being people of peace
Being people of peace

It would be fair to say that the pace and complexity of life works against us finding any peace.

Christians and religious nones alike object to AI-generated social media videos
Christians and religious nones alike object to AI-generated social media videos

Evangelicals, nones and non-denominational Christians reject AI-generated videos, a new study has found.

What we don’t know about Christmas
What we don’t know about Christmas

Every Christmas people are bombarded with images of the Nativity in Christmas cards, the lyrics of songs and Nativity plays. Yet many of the images embedded in our minds are pure tradition. In fact, there is a lot that we do not know. This is the story … 

Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster
Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster

Bishop Richard Moth has been confirmed as the new Archbishop of Westminster, the most senior post in the Catholic Church in England and Wales.