Lord True – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord True on 2016-02-09.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have received any indication from the government of France that it would unilaterally abrogate the Treaty of Le Touquet were the people of the UK to vote to leave the European Union.

Lord Bates

Juxtaposed Controls were introduced for short sea crossings by the “Treaty Between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the French Republic Concerning the Implementation of Frontier Controls at the Sea ports of Both Countries on the Channel and North Sea”, signed at Le Touquet on 4 February 2003.

This bilateral agreement between the UK and France provides for immigration controls to be conducted by the country of arrival in designated control zones in the country of departure at both French and UK sea ports on the Channel and North Sea, including Calais and Dunkirk in France, and Dover in the UK.

The Le Touquet Treaty is an agreement concluded between the UK and France under international law. The UK and France have an excellent relationship and work closely together to secure the UK/France border, including at sea ports on the Channel and the North Sea.

The Le Touquet Treaty has resulted in a reduced number of asylum claims and continues to be a valuable part of our border security.