France: Immigration Controls

(asked on 9th February 2016) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which parts of the Treaty of Le Touquet between the United Kingdom and France are dependent on the existence of the Treaties of the European Union, or incorporated within them.


Answered by
Lord Bates Portrait
Lord Bates
This question was answered on 23rd February 2016

Juxtaposed Controls were introduced for short sea crossings by the “Treaty Between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the French Republic Concerning the Implementation of Frontier Controls at the Sea ports of Both Countries on the Channel and North Sea”, signed at Le Touquet on 4 February 2003.

This bilateral agreement between the UK and France provides for immigration controls to be conducted by the country of arrival in designated control zones in the country of departure at both French and UK sea ports on the Channel and North Sea, including Calais and Dunkirk in France, and Dover in the UK.

The Le Touquet Treaty is an agreement concluded between the UK and France under international law. The UK and France have an excellent relationship and work closely together to secure the UK/France border, including at sea ports on the Channel and the North Sea.

The Le Touquet Treaty has resulted in a reduced number of asylum claims and continues to be a valuable part of our border security.

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