‘Calais is NOT a backdoor to England!’ Macron warns May there will be ‘no more jungle’

Mr Macron visited Calais today and met with refugees and toured a welcome centre as the migrant crisis escalates.

Despite the new hardline on immigrants, the president vowed to protect those in need, but said Britain must do more to help.

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Speaking passionately to the security forces, he said: “We can integrate those who come from countries at peace, but our duty is to protect those who are persecuted and we are seeking asylum.

“A person who flees his country at war should not have to face the roads of misery, and sometimes the violence of slavery. We must help the countries of origin and transit. 

“Those who are here and elsewhere in Europe must be protected in the face of persecution.”

The leader vowed to protect the security of the Port and stressed that Calais “should not be a back door to England”, vowing that another jungle would not be built in Calais.

Adding: “The fundamental task is to ensure the security of the Calais port and Channel tunnel”. 

The President explained the ‘jungle’ could no longer exist as it is a “stalemate”, and offered a “clear alternative” for each people to be placed into a hostel and their asylum status considered.

He said France “will take care of distributing food and meals but in an organised way”.

And there would be measures taken to help refugees integrate and adapt to French society. 

Mr Macron also slammed “lies” of brutal treatment in the port, but promised “unethical behaviour” from police would not be tolerated. 

After the visit, the President tweeted: “Message of solidarity and recognition to the inhabitants of this beautiful city of Calais. They deserve, and we owe them.”

He also took time to thank the volunteers in Calais, saying: “Your commitment is the spark that you turn on to help and save others.”

This afternoon the French premier visited Calais to take stock of the pressure on the Channel port ahead of a summit with Prime Minister Theresa May this week.

He spent time in a welcome centre and visited a new structure built to house migrants waiting to hear their asylum status. 

Mr Macron is expected to unveil a new migrant policy next month which will see the asylum application process sped up – and the faster removal of those whose application is rejected.

On Thursday he will travel to the UK where he is expected to demand the Government to do more to help with the problem.

The Elysée Palace said “ways to improve the handling of migrants on the common border in Calais” will be discussed at the summit.

Minister of the Interior Gérard Collomb told France 2 he promised to ask the British government to “help Calais develop”.

He and the Prime Minister will discuss the Le Touquet accord, a 2003 treaty which effectively allows Britain to establish its border in France, and France to run its border checks in Britain. 

French officials believe the accord favours Britain and has contributed to the gathering of migrants to Calais, the closest point to the UK’s shores. 

From Calais, many try to jump on trucks and trains going under the Channel into Britain, just 30 km (20 miles) away.

At the meeting with May, Macron is expected to push for a new “additional protocol” to supplement the Le Touquet treaty that would involve Britain paying more to France for border security and accepting more asylum seekers.

He is also to ask the UK to allow in unaccompanied children and adults with family members already in the country, and for more money to help with border security.

Macron’s government is drafting legislation to tighten immigration rules, in part a response to soaring asylum requests. Last year there were more than 100,000 applications, a record high. A further 85,000 people were reportedly stopped at the French borders and refused entry.

Mr Macron is to meet representatives from the 1,000-strong police and gendarmerie forces deployed at the Channel port to secure the border.

A statement from the Elysée said Mr Macron would stress authorities must act with “respect for the rights of migrants and good policing practice”.

Two NGOs in Calais refused to meet the president in protest at his strict new measures. 

Natacha Bouchart, the right-wing mayor of Calais, told BFM television yesterday that the local population was “tired” of the situation and expected a lot from the president’s visit.