France can no longer bear ‘entire burden’ of defending UK border, warns minister on migrant crisis

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Bruno Retailleau, the new French interior minister, warned on Friday that Britain could no longer “sub-contract” Channel border security out to Paris, according to a report by The Telegraph. “The border between France and the United Kingdom is Europe’s common external border”, he said, adding it was “no longer possible” for France to bear the “entire burden” of defending it. open image in gallery French Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau speaks next to Hauts-de-France regional council president Xavier Bertrand and Mayor of Calais Natacha Bouchart, during a press conference after a meeting with local mayors on the migrant crisis in Ambleteuse, northern France, on November 29 He continued: “France cannot tackle this issue alone. “Eventually, there will have to be a legal route to Great Britain and a returns route not only to France but also to the border countries,” Mr Retailleau said.