According to the FTA (Freight Transport Association), the plans outlined last month by David Cameron and François Hollande to tackle the migrant problem in Calais were its idea.
Freight Transport Association (FTA) outlined a five-point action plan to tackle the situation, and had called on both governments to adopt it in order to protect the vital link between Dover and Calais which handles £89 billion worth of UK trade every year. The plan was:
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To move the migrant camp away from the motorway and Eurotunnel facility to deter migrants from attempting to board commercial vehicles and trains
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To secure the Port of Calais and Eurotunnel facility against incursion by migrants and to complete the secure parking zone in the port area for use by operators
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To emphasise to the British and French governments the need to maintain the juxtaposed border controls and investment in police and security arrangements to guarantee that drivers’ rights to safe passage through the port are respected
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To support registration of migrants and processing of asylum claims by the French authorities to legitimise and control those camped out around Calais
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To declare the Port of Calais and Eurotunnel facility as off-limits to any industrial protests
Pauline Bastidon – FTA Head of European Policy said: “Prime Minister Cameron and President Hollande have demonstrated that they have understood the issue in Calais as set out in FTA’s earlier communications on the crisis at the French port. Their agenda coincides with ours, and reflects many of the key points proposed in the FTA five-point action plan to address the problems our members are facing.”
The UK government has announced £17 million of additional funding towards additional security measures and police forces, to protect essential infrastructure and reinforce security arrangements. The money will reportedly also go towards efforts to move migrants away from the camp in Calais to other facilities in France, and will help fund joint work to return migrants that are not in need of protection to their home country.
Ms Bastidon added: “The additional funds will provide much needed security and FTA will campaign for part of the money to be used towards new secure parking zones for drivers in and around Calais, to ensure that they and their trucks are less vulnerable.”
The FTA says it will continue to work constructively with both the UK and French authorities to translate these positive announcements into concrete action.
Photos: Migrants near Calais.