France is not doing enough to prevent migrant deaths in the English Channel, minister admits – after years of blaming Britain

France is not doing enough to prevent the deaths of migrants in the English Channel, a departing minister admitted in Paris.

Guillaume Kasbarian spoke after eight men were killed in the latest boat tragedy near Calais on Sunday.

As of Monday, six survivors, including a ten-month-old baby, were still in hospital as the hunt for the people smugglers responsible continued.

This led outgoing housing minister Kasbarian to tell France Info radio: “In humility, we must acknowledge what we have not done enough and encourage those who want to do more in the future.”

“These are terrible tragedies that raise questions about humanity, but also questions about our migration policy, the fight against human trafficking and against people smugglers.”

At least eight migrants on their way to Britain drowned yesterday when the dinghy (pictured) got into trouble on the Channel

This comes after French authorities rescued around 200 people off the coast of Calais in 24 hours between Friday and Saturday night. (File image of migrants taken to Dover earlier this month as they attempted to reach the UK)

The mea culpa represents a significant shift in the French response to boating accidents, but President Emmanuel Macron's ministers have traditionally blamed the British for the rising death toll.

“I hope we can overcome our differences,” said Kasbarian. “We must act as humanely and decisively as possible on the migration issue.”

France has been in a state of political paralysis for the past two months after a snap election resulted in a stalemate in parliament.

Earlier this month, Macron appointed former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as his new prime minister, but Barnier has not yet formed a new government.

When asked what Barnier's migration policy should look like, Kasbarian replied: “I will be careful not to give moral lessons at such a tragic time.”

Criminal investigations have been launched after eight as yet unidentified men were killed on Ambleteuse beach near Calais on Sunday.

They were all among 59 migrants on their way to Britain who were crammed into a rickety rubber dinghy that was “torn apart” when it ran aground on rocks.

A British government spokesman said French authorities were leading the investigation.

“We can confirm that there was an incident in the Channel involving a small boat in French waters,” the spokesman said at the time.

“The French authorities are leading the response and investigation. We will not comment further at this time.”

Less than ten people on board a boat organized by human smugglers wore life jackets and demanded up to £1,000 per person for the illegal crossing from France to Britain.

The people on board come from Eritrea, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt and Iran, said local prefect Jacques Billant, without giving any further details about the names of the people concerned.

The Ambleteuse disaster occurred shortly after 1 a.m. and within six hours another group of migrants set off for exactly the same location.

A rescue worker said: “The bodies were taken to a ramp in Ambleteuse, but at 7 a.m. a second boat left from there too.”

“Boats have been going into the area all weekend – there have been non-stop rescue operations.”

Sunday's death toll means that 46 migrants have died in similar circumstances in the English Channel this year alone.

A group of people believed to be migrants are taken by a Border Agency vessel to Dover, Kent, following an incident involving a small boat in the Channel. Picture taken September 4, 2024

The channel is one of the world's busiest shipping routes and currents are strong, making crossing in small boats dangerous. (File image of migrants being taken to Dover earlier this month as they attempted to reach the UK)

In April, a criminal investigation was also launched after five migrants, including a little girl, died in nearby Wimereux.

In addition, on 14 January, five migrants drowned while trying to reach the UK from the beach at Wimereux.

The angry mayor of Wimereux has repeatedly claimed that the British are solely responsible for such tragedies.

Jean-Luc Dubaele said in April: “Britain is responsible for the boats crossing the English Channel and for the deaths at sea.”

“The English pay us to stop the boats from leaving, but they take care of the migrants when they arrive on their shores.”

“The English give them accommodation, food, a bank account and let them work without any regulations.”

Earlier this month, six children and a pregnant woman also died when a boat was “torn apart” and sank in the waters off Wimereux.

Upon arrival, the migrants wore a mix of different life jackets and were taken to the immigration processing centre – while a bus full of asylum seekers headed to the main centre in Manston.

The worst such tragedy occurred in November 2021, when 27 migrants died when a dinghy sank en route to the UK – the highest number of deaths ever recorded in a single incident.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron promised this summer to “strengthen cooperation” in the fight against people smugglers.

Starmer insisted last week that his government was making “progress” in stopping boats.

The Prime Minister expressed his “confidence” that the Labour Party could succeed in eliminating “the gangs” behind people smuggling as he attended a summit with law enforcement and security services on the issue.

But Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Even 12 tragic deaths cannot make the Labour Party realise that a real plan is needed to stop small boats crossing the Channel.”

When Sir Keir visited the National Crime Agency with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on 6 September, he was asked how he could claim that there was encouraging progress in light of the latest figures.

He told the BBC: “We have already managed to send back over 3,000 people who have no right to be here.”

“This includes the largest single flight we have ever had.”

“So we are making progress. I am aware that more needs to be done.”