UK-France deal to tackle small boat crossings in ‘final stages’, says No 10

Britain and France are in the ‘final stages’ of talks on a deal to tackle unauthorised crossings of the Channel by migrants, Downing Street has said.Speaking shortly after a meeting between Rishi Sunak and French president Emmanuel Macron in Egypt, the PM’s official spokesperson said: ‘A deal is being discussed and I think is in its final stages.’The No 10 spokesperson said the potential deal related to ‘joint enforcement operations’, but the two leaders are yet to agree a time table for implementation.Mr Sunak said he is full of ‘optimism’ about cooperation agreement with France and other EU nations to tackle ‘illegal migration’.The prime minister said it had been ‘great’ to discuss the crisis with Mr Macron at the margins of the Cop27 climate summit in Egypt.Mr Sunak did not set out any details of plans to combat people-smuggling on Monday – but suggested there would be further action to ‘stop people coming illegally’ in the weeks ahead.Mr Sunak, who also met Italy’s new far-right leader Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, told broadcasters: ‘I think there is an opportunity for us to work closely, not just with the French but with other countries as well.’He added: ‘I’m leaving this [summit] with renewed confidence and optimism that working together with our European partners, we can make a difference, grip this challenge of illegal migration and stop people coming illegally.’Pressed for details on cooperation deals with France and others, Mr Sunak said: ‘You will hear more details in the coming weeks, as those conversations happen amongst all our teams.’The prime minister added: ‘I want to be honest with people, it’s a complex issue. It’s not one simple solution that’s going to solve it overnight. There’s a range of things we need to do … There is a range of things we will action as quickly as we can.’More follows…