The French government is intensifying its approach towards intercepting small boats carrying migrants to the UK, with plans to implement new patrols within 300 meters of coastal beaches. According to sources from the French interior ministry, the new strategy will involve the deployment of six patrol boats designated to rescue migrants and intercept so-called 'taxi boats' before they attempt to cross the English Channel. This initiative aims to adapt existing legal frameworks surrounding maritime intervention, ensuring compliance with international law.
We are aware of the high stakes involved in interventions at sea and of the need to adapt our doctrine of action.
Today, our intervention can only take place to rescue a boat already at sea, in particular because of the criminal liability issues associated with any interception carried out for any other reason.
We would like to change this framework so that we can operate in shallow waters, up to 300 metres from the coast, and thus intercept 'taxi boats', while respecting the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
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