London to build wall near Eurotunnel
The British government plans to build a big cement wall in Calais to prevent refugees from getting into the Eurotunnel. The wall would be part of a 20-million euro package with which London and Paris aim to boost border protection. Some commentators see the plans as proof of the EU's failure in the refugee crisis. Others see the barrier as a reasonable measure.
No solution without borders and walls
There's no alternative to building new barriers in view of the massive influx of refugees and immigrants for which Europe itself is to blame, the Daily Telegraph believes:
“Across the continent of Europe borders are going up everywhere, from the Greek-Macedonian border, all the way along what used to be the migrant route up through the Balkans into northern Europe. Every country that has criticised every other country for doing so has ended up doing the thing it has criticised within weeks. This is not a failing. Rather, it would be a failing to do anything otherwise. The mass migration which Europe has encouraged in recent years is making itself felt. And one of the political consequences is the re-erection of borders.”
First the Eurotunnel, now the Eurowall
The wall of Calais is a symbol of failure, the business daily Il Sole 24 Ore comments:
“First we had the Eurotunnel, now we have the Eurowall. A devastating symbol of these changing times, of a Europe that is falling apart instead of growing together. A Europe that is unable to face challenges for which it wasn't prepared and to which it doesn't know how to respond. The problem starts with the fact that we clearly no longer want to differentiate between 'economic refugees' and 'asylum seekers'. We remain incapable of applying existing laws and signed treaties. … The wall is effectively a further step in the process of pushing the problem southwards: any wall or barrier that is constructed in the North inevitably shifts the burden to the South. The reason for this is the EU's complete inability to find joint solutions to a problem that threatens to break up the entire community structure.”
The disgrace on the English Channel
The planned wall in Calais won't solve the problem, De Standaard complains:
“The so-called Jungle of Calais is a disgrace for Europe. The way in which the French state has let the problem get out of hand is difficult to reconcile with the values that the République so dearly loves to evoke. ... The Brits aren't innocent either, incidentally. On the contrary. ... And after the Brexit they'll be in even less of a hurry to solve the problem. ... Perhaps Europe should demand that a decent solution for Calais should be part of the Brexit agreement. The disgrace of Calais shows once again that only broad-based European cooperation and solidarity can solve the refugee and migration problem. But this solidarity does not exist. Too many member countries only pass the buck on to others.”
Refugees not to blame for decline of Calais
Residents and truck drivers have been demonstrating in Calais since the start of the week against the refugees living in the camp known as the "Jungle", blaming the migrants for the city's decline. Nonsense, writes Calais resident Nancy Bélart on her blog with Mediapart:
“Calais is a port city and has always been dangerous at night. ... For 30 years the downtown area has always been like a ghost town as of 7 p.m. And 20 years ago the construction of the tunnel and the opening of the huge shopping centre Cité Europe sounded the death knell for the city and its shops. ... So the refugees have nothing to do with the death of Calais! On the contrary: if the city's residents had given them a chance they would have liked nothing better than to drink a tea or coffee and have a bite to eat in the city centre - and thus participate in the city's economic life. Even with the little money they have at their disposal.”