European Commission in Calais: Advancing on a European approach to migration

EU News 235/2015

Calais, 31 August 2015
IP/15/5555

Today, the European Commission announced financial aid to support France to help address the situation in Calais.

European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans and Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos visited Calais, alongside French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Minister of Interior Bernard Cazeneuve.

During the visit, the Commission welcomed the concrete actions put forward by the French and British authorities in their joint declaration on managing migratory flows in Calais, in particular the pledges to take additional steps to act against criminal networks of smugglers who prey on migrants, to develop a fast-track process for assessing asylum claims, to ensure the adequate protection of the most vulnerable, and to ensure the return of those migrants who have no right to stay in the EU.

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In response to a request for emergency assistance, the Commission agreed to allocate €5.2 million in emergency assistance funding under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) to set up a tent site offering humanitarian assistance to around 1500 illegal migrants residing in the area surrounding the day centre "Jules Ferry" and to support the transport of asylum seekers from Calais to other locations in France.

Source and additional information:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-5555_en.htm?locale=en

Visit by Frans Timmermans and Dimitris Avramopoulos to Calais. Bernard Cazeneuve, French Minister of the Interior, 2nd on the left, Harlem Desir, French State Secretary of European Affairs, 4th on the left, Manuel Valls, French Prime Minister, 5th on the left, Frans Timmermans, 5th on the right and Dimitris Avramopoulos, 3rd on the right. Date: 31/08/2015 Reference: P-028936/00-07 Location: Calais (C) EU, 2015 URL

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