French plans to slash small boats in the Channel could be left in jeopardy if the French Government collapses.
In June, France’s Cabinet agreed to alter the interpretation of maritime law to allow border police, gendarmes and coastguard vessels to intercept small boats within 300 metres of the coast.
The French Cabinet agreed to alter the interpretation of maritime law to allow police to intercept smalls boats within 300 metres of the coast
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GETTY
But with the French Government now facing a crunch confidence vote, the change could fall to the wayside.
Currently, police are prohibited under French law to intercept a migrant boat once it has entered the water – unless assistance is requested.
Because of this, the rate of interventions, which must be done by French police before the boats enter the water, has fallen to just 43 per cent this year.
French Government lawyers have already delayed the implementation of the change by questioning its legality under international maritime conventions.
Now, the plans are likely to be postponed further after Francois Bayrou, the French Prime Minister, called for a vote of confidence to take place on September 8.
MIGRANT CRISIS – LATEST:
Currently, police are prohibited by French law to intercept a migrant boat once it has entered the water unless assistance is requested
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PA
The Government is widely expected to lose the vote due to large discontent amongst members of the opposition over budget plans.
If it does, President Emmanuel Macron will be forced to find another Prime Minister and form another Government.
While this happens, the current Government would remain in office as a caretaker administration, but would be restricted in its powers to only deal with routine matters.
It is believed that continuing with the plans to allow police to intercept migrant boats will not be a priority for any new Government.
Instead, they are likely to focus approving a new budget to stop France’s descent into crippling debt.
President Emmanuel Macron (left) could soon be forced to find another Prime Minister to replace Francois Bayrou (right)
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GETTY
French Government sources, according to The Times, agreed that the maritime law change would be low on the list of priorities for a new administration, and is unlikely to progress anytime soon.
A UK Government source called the political situation in France “difficult”, adding: “We hope they will operationalise it, but it has become more difficult due to these developments.”
Although, it is understood that in the past 24 hours, the French Interior Ministry has assured the Home Office the change in interpretation will go ahead as planned.
The change was first proposed in February by the French Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau.
However, since then, lengthy reviews by France’s General Secretariat for the Sea have continued to delay the process.
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs in June that she urged the French to “implement the changes as swiftly as possible”.
