Berlin and London: tough against smuggling in the English Channel!

Berlin and London: tough against smuggling in the English Channel!

The Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser signed a decisive agreement with her British colleague Yvette Cooper in London to combat migrants over the English Channel. These measures aim to prevent the dangerous crossing of refugees with inflatable boats from France to Great Britain. Tragically, these crossings have already led to numerous losses of human life, since shipping gap in the English Channel is repeatedly reported. Faeser explained that the logistical plans will also take place in Germany to strengthen the prevention and persecution of smuggling networks, as Deutschlandfunk reported.

In order to counter these criminal networks, extensive investigations in Germany have already been carried out last week. The focus was on the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg, in which the authorities act against smuggling together with international partners. The agreement should now also enable closer cooperation between the German and British security authorities. Both politicians emphasized that the fight against smuggling crime is greatest priority to minimize the dangers of migrants. These measures are urgently needed to create a clear, common approach and to tackle the humanitarian problems in the English Channel, such as SPIEGEL explained.