UK, France clamp down on Calais

On Thursday, France and Britain agreed to step up efforts to discourage migrants from Africa and the Middle East from trying to stow away on vehicles crossing the English Channel to the United Kingdom. Home Minister Theresa May met her French counterpart, Bernard Cazeneuve, in Paris to discuss the issue, a frequent source of cross-Channel friction.

"Taking into account the worsening migration crisis in the Mediterranean and the repercussions on Calais, where 3,000 migrants are currently based, the two ministers decided to reinforce their cooperation," read a joint statement issued after Thursday's meeting.

Last September, France and Britain signed an agreement to create a 5-million-euro ($5.6 million) fund to reinforce security around the port and access to the Channel Tunnel. Some migrants have taken advantage of ferry worker strikes that began last week at the port to attempt to stow away on lorries stuck in traffic jams.

Publicity stunt, or astute observation?

Bookmakers Paddy Power caused something of a stir, meanwhile, by dispatching a truck to Dover inviting would-be migrants to "hop in" - provided that they were talented athletes.

Adorning the trucks were images of British sports stars born outside the country, such as Olympic double gold medalist Mo Farah (born in Somalia) and Liverpool and England soccer striker Raheem Sterling (born in Jamaica). Wimbledon hopeful Andy Murray, a notoriously recalcitrant Scot and prominent advocate of independence at last year's referendum, was also included; Paddy Power describe Murray as "sometimes Scot, sometimes Brit."

British welfare 'realities'

Further talks on migration and people smuggling will take place in London in July. The United Nations reports that 137,000 thousand migrants - often fleeing conflict, famine or persecution - have crossed the Mediterranean Sea from Africa in the first half of 2015, an increase of 83 percent from last year.

Should migrants manage to cross the Mediterranean, Italy and the length of France, the new measure would ensure that their journeys end in Calais. On Thursday, the two ministers said the extra resources would pay for new measures aimed at preventing migrants from gaining access to the port premises from the beach and increasing security at the Channel Tunnel.

"Moreover, joint information campaigns aimed at explaining to migrants the realities of the British asylum and welfare system, so as to dissuade flows of migrants to the Calais region, will be pursued and stepped up," the ministers wrote in Thursday's statement.

The presence of migrants in Calais has become a right-wing talking point in France's upcoming regional elections. Front National leader Marine Le Pen will stand for a municipal seat in the region.

In June, Interior Minister Cazeneuve announced plans to build 11,000 new housing units for migrants.

mkg/msh (Reuters, AFP)