UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron Friday agreed on a multi-million pound package of measures to stop migration across the Channel which will see a new detention centre established in France as well as the deployment of more French personnel and enhanced technology to patrol beaches in a shared effort to drive down illegal migration.

According to the UK Government, “The unparalleled multi-year agreement delivers on the PM’s priority to stop small boats and builds on joint measures taken with France in 2022 which increased patrols by 40%.” It also aims to stop migrants taking the Channel crossing in the first place and intercept those making the deadly crossing.

In a statement, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

We don’t need to manage this problem, we need to break it. And today, we have gone further than ever before to put an end to this disgusting trade in human life. Working together, the UK and France will ensure that nobody can exploit our systems with impunity.

At the conclusion of the 36th Franco-British Summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said:

To achieve [our aims on migration], France and the United Kingdom have adopted a multi-year, joint operational and financing plan. Beyond the important regular French contribution, the British contribution over the next three years will amount to 141 million euros for 2023-2024, 191 million euros for 2024-2025 and 209 million euros for 2025-2026.

The two leaders also discussed assistance for Ukraine, defence and security, foreign policy and global issues as well as economic and social ties between the two countries, terrorism, cyber crime and energy security.

This comes amidst the controversial new Illegal Migration Bill which was debated in the UK Parliament this week. The bill essentially means that those who come to the UK illegally will be deported to a third country with no chance of having their asylum case heard.