The continuing humanitarian crisis in Calais needs urgent action, and not just in the French town, according to the Green Party MEP, Jean Lambert.
French police say that one man was killed when at least 1,500 people tried to enter the Channel Tunnel on Tuesday (28th July) night.
Lambert, Green MEP for London and national spokesperson for immigration said:
“The problem in Calais cannot be solved by action in Calais alone. A range of wider actions are needed and a new, expensive high fence isn’t the answer.
“People are trying to escape conflict and oppressive regimes so it’s not a problem that will subside any time soon, making short-term responses on deterrence alone deeply flawed.
“The UK needs to speed-up passage through the tunnel by increasing the number of people working on passport and other checks, helping to reduce delays.
“Most urgently, France needs to work with humanitarian agencies to establish a centre so that asylum claims can be lodged and the French authorities need to be much more proactive on this.
“The UK and France must improve cooperation quickly by processing asylum claims of those at Calais who may have family or other links to the UK.
“As regards the ferry-workers’ industrial action, which has triggered the latest actions, the French authorities need to work with management and unions over what action is permissible and to ensure security at the Tunnel.”