Cazeneuve is the minister responsible for dealing with the asylum seeker camps in and around Calais, where thousands are camped out attempting to cross the English Channel to the UK. The situation has led to the frequent closure of the Eurotunnel freight service as well as hundreds of attempts by migrants to board wagons making their way to the UK.
In a special agreement with the French — known as the Sangatte and Le Touquet treaties — the UK Border Agency processes migrant applications on French soil, which means that — when they are refused permission to travel to the UK by train or ferry — they remain in France.
Retrouvez le texte de mon discours en mairie de Calais cet après-midi: https://t.co/3rM8xRCZqE pic.twitter.com/bilCAXGy0x
— Bernard Cazeneuve (@BCazeneuve) October 21, 2015
It is at that point they make their way to the freight terminal at Coquelles, near Calais, where they have repeatedly cut through security fences and stormed the freight terminal, causing the rail services to be canceled — which, in turn, causes massive delays and traffic chaos either side of the English Channel.
There have been calls in France to tear up the agreements and allow the migrants total freedom to cross the Channel. The migrants would end up in and around Dover, causing massive chaos and a great deal of public anger.
Asked by the Daily Telegraph newspaper about the possible tearing up of the treaties, Cazeneuve said:
"I have no intention of participating in the referendum campaign in Britain. However, it is obvious that leaving the EU will always result in countermeasures."
Rising Anger Over Migrants and EU
If the border controls were to be removed from the French side, asylum seekers would be allowed to exit from France, resulting in thousands of people flooding across to Dover and the surrounding region.
Cazeneuve admitted that — were the border controls at Calais changed — it would lead to a flood of asylum seekers crossing France to enter the UK.
"Calling for the border with the English to be opened is not a responsible solution. It would send a signal to people smugglers and would lead migrants to flow to call in far greater numbers. A humanitarian disaster would ensue."
If anti-EU sentiment continues to rise because of the Calais crisis — which Cameron has admitted will not be over for a long time — it will badly affect his campaign for the UK to remain in Europe and make it tougher for him to retain his credibility when arguing to remain in the EU.
