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3/2/2016 11:52:05 PM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) A migrant walks past a makeshift restaurant in the so-called Jungle migrant camp in Calais on February 23 2016. AFP Denis Charlet
Paris: France will be hoping for an increase in British aid to tackle the migrant crisis in northern Calais when President Francois Hollande meets Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday diplomats said.
This year's Franco-British summit comes as the "Jungle" camp in the northern French city of Calais where migrants have gathered in grim conditions to try to cross into Britain is once again in the spotlight.
For the past few days France has been trying to convince the migrants to move into better accommodation as they raze shacks in the southern part of the camp facing often violent resistance.
The camp has been a frequent source of tension between Paris and London as more migrants fleeing poverty and war in the Middle East and north Africa make increasingly desperate efforts to reach Britain.
"We are expecting additional financial commitments" a French diplomat told AFP ahead of the meeting between Cameron and Hollande.
The money will go towards the opening of new reception centres and to further boost security around ports on both sides of the Channel.
Despite tensions the two nations have tried to present a united front in tackling the crisis and in August last year signed a raft of deals to increase security in Calais and boost humanitarian assistance.
Britain pledged 10 million euros ($11.2 million) over two years to speed up asylum applications and increase humanitarian aid.
Tightened security has curbed the number of attempts by migrants to force their way into the Channel Tunnel a crossing that claimed several lives last year.
The annual summit will this year take place in the northern French city of Amiens capital of the region that saw the Battle of the Somme a century ago during World War I.
In one of the bloodiest military confrontations in history some 400000 British and 200000 French soldiers were killed between July 1 and November 16 1916.
Ahead of the summit Cameron and Hollande will visit the Pozieres war memorial.
Aside from the migrant issue Paris and London will also sign accords to increase cooperation on defence and the fight against terrorism.
The two countries will carry out a vast military exercise involving 7000 French and British soldiers in April and they also want to develop cooperation in terms of weaponry.
AFP