Flemish road haulage association, Transport Logistics Vlaanderen (TLV) is warning any reintroduction of the British border at Calais back to Dover will trigger a “free ticket” to yet more waves of migrants desperate to reach the UK.
Noises from French President-elect Emmanuel Macron’s camp during the recent election hinted the current juxtaposed frontier control agreement known as the Le Touquet Treaty, could be ripped up as the UK negotiates its tortuous exit from the European Union, but those at the sharp end caution of the massive impact such a draconian move could provoke.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
TLV’s immediate jurisdiction extends to the Flemish ports of Zeebrugge and Ostend but the body is also crucially aware of the huge problems caused by mass migratory movements last year, which saw the Port of Calais almost overwhelmed by refugees attempting to stow away on lorries using ferries and Le Shuttle services.
“By moving the border you will only [move] the problem,” a TLV spokesman told just-auto from Flanders. “The French authorities took a very long time to solve the problem in Calais [and] there are some problems now in for example, Dunquerque, also in some Flemish ports [such] as Zeebrugge and Ostend.
“[Moving the border] Would give a free ticket to refugees to climb aboard [lorries] – this is a very dangerous situation. The French authorities will have to take their responsibilities no matter what. Moving the problem will be an open invitation to refugees to say, ‘let’s party and get into trucks.’
“The only risk they would have is to get past the border control in the UK. We will strongly recommend with all our resources to ask the European Commission to put France before their responsibilities. Fines [are] always against transport companies and we have to do everything we can as a road haulage association.”
The TLV’s cautionary words come days after Macron’s victory in the French Presidential elections against rival, Marine Le Pen, with British Prime Minister, Theresa May, telephoning the French Head of State-elect to offer her congratulations as the UK dips its toes into Brexit waters.
A spokesman for May’s Number 10 Downing Street official residence confirmed the phone call to just-auto, but was unable to offer any details of reports the Prime Minister had specifically raised the Le Touquet issue, as the British civil service is now in a state of purdah or silence as the country prepares for legislative elections next month.
Britain’s Freight Transport Association (FTA) warned this week of the “disastrous effects” any shift in borders could have on logistics including the UK automotive supply chain. Such disruption could see huge delays at Calais as ferry and Le Shuttle operators try to ensure they do not fall foul of hugely punitive fines (GBP2,000/US$2,600) imposed by London for every stowaway migrant found.
The Le Touquet Treaty has largely worked well for both countries, although significant problems have sporadically flared up as desperate migrants fleeing political persecution – and sometimes economic poverty – have attempted to stow away on lorries crossing the English Channel.
The FTA – along with the British Road Haulage Association (RHA) has consistently highlighted the issue of danger to drivers engendered by some migrants who have shredded truck sides with knives and fashioned branches into spears to hurl at vehicles – a view echoed by the TLV in Flanders.
“We have made recommendations on regular [occasions] to our members, what they can do to [prevent] refugees climbing aboard, but people are so desperate they do anything, they jump from bridges onto trucks,” added the TLV spokesman.
Concerns have been expressed should Paris decide to axe Le Touquet, it will simply encourage a stampede of new migrants to the North French ports as the problem shifts from immigration authorities to transport providers.
The French Fédération Nationale des Transports Routiers (FNTR) was not immediately available for comment.
