RISHI Sunak has met his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris for the announcement of a multi-million pound deal to end the small boats crisis.
The world leaders smiled and shook hands outside the grand Elysee Palace this morning before heading inside for crunch talks.
British PM Rishi Sunak shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron
The pair met today for the Franco-British Summit, which is being held at Elysee Palace in Paris
Rishi Sunak spoke to British members of the media, including Sun man Jack Elsom (right), on the Eurostar journey to Paris
This afternoon the PM is expected to announce a mega £200 million deal with France to end dangerous channel crossings.
Mr Sunak will spend the cash on police, intelligence and security to stop migrants “at source” and prevent them making the perilous journey from Calais to Dover.
The money is expected to be handed to Paris as part of a three-year deal.
The agreement, which will include hundreds of extra French police patrolling beaches, aims to “break” the business model of people smuggling gangs.
Deeper co-operation on intelligence sharing and investment in drones is also understood to be part of the pact.
The proposals aim to boost the interception rate of small boats from 42% last year to 75%.
Once it hits this level it should destroy the business model of the gangs.
Joining Mr Sunak at the Franco-British summit is Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, Home Secretary Suella Braverman, Transport Secretary Mark Harper, Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey, Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps and Investment Minister Dominic Johnson.
The ministers will meet with their French equivalents throughout today.
he summit is set to kick off with one-to-one talks between Mr Sunak and Mr Macron.
Both will then host a trade and investment forum before meeting with young leaders from the Franco-British council.
Then, a major press conference is due to commence at 2pm.
The PM is keen to break from the style his predecessor Liz Truss and take a more friendly approach approach to relations with France.
Cooperation between the two states frayed when Ms Truss said “the jury is still out” as to whether Mr Macron was a “friend or foe”.
A key message at this year’s summit is that the UK’s relationship with France is “defined by our mutual history, our proximity and our shared global outlook”.
Ministers will stress the alliance is a “necessary pre-requisite for our prosperity and our security”.
