With the aim of combating illegal crossings of the Channel, France and Britain on Thursday reached an agreement to extend the Treaty of Sandhurst for three years. London stipulated that part of its funding be linked to the effectiveness of the measures taken to deter migrants. The agreement also stipulates an increase in the number of security force personnel allocated to this mission by 50%.

Published on: 04/23/2026 - 07:25

After arduous negotiations that lasted for months, the French and British authorities reached a new agreement to try to stop illegal Channel crossings. The two countries agreed to renew the Sandhurst Treaty for three years, but London linked part of its funding to the effectiveness of the measures taken to deter migrants.

The agreement, signed in 2018 and extended in 2023, was scheduled to expire in 2026.

Read also: A French court sentences two Iraqis and a Sudanese to prison over the drowning of migrants who attempted to cross the English Channel.

Britain will provide financing of up to 766 million euros ($897 million), but about a quarter of this amount will be conditional and will not be paid unless the French measures succeed.

London and Paris have been at loggerheads for months over the renewal of the Sandhurst Treaty, which specifies London's financial contribution to French efforts to stop migrants trying to cross the dangerous Channel to Britain.

Britain has long accused France of doing little to prevent would-be asylum seekers setting off from French shores, where smugglers and migrants are increasingly taking risks to avoid detection.

As a result, London insisted that it would not renew the Treaty of Sandhurst unless it could impose conditions on the way the French government used British taxpayers' money.

Read also: Britain tightens its asylum policy and decides to cancel the refugee reunification program

41,472 people arrived in Britain irregularly in small boats in 2025, according to official figures issued by the British authorities. This number is the second highest number since the start of these voyages in 2018. According to statistics from the French Press Agency, based on official French and British sources, at least 29 migrants died at sea in 2025.

France 24/AFP

Keywords related to the article

The content you want to browse is no longer in service or is currently unavailable.