May, Macron hold talks as UK pledges £44m on Calais security
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in the UK for a summit with Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday as Britain announced an extra £44.5m to increase Channel border security.
The government said the money would be spent on fencing, CCTV and infrared detection technology in Calais and other border points.
As part of the deal, the UK was also expected to commit to taking more migrants from the Calais area, especially unaccompanied children,
In a show of unity as Britain prepares to leave the European Union in March 2019, the two leaders were also to agree the deployment of three RAF Chinook helicopters in Mali, where French forces are fighting Islamist militants, and France sending more troops to reinforce a British contingent in Estonia on Nato's border with Russia.
Macron said during his leadership campaign last year that he wanted to renegotiate or tear up the 2003 Le Touquet agreement, which established French border controls in Britain and UK controls in Calais.
The agreement has resulted in thousands of undocumented migrants barred from entering the UK staying in makeshift camps around the Calais port region, raising tensions.
Up to 700 migrants remain in the area, despite the camp known as the "Jungle" having been torn down in 2016.
Before Macron left Paris, an aide to the president said France would look “with kindness” on Britain making a decision to halt Brexit.
“If tomorrow, or the day after, the United Kingdom decided to change its mind, it’s clear that we would look at this with kindness,” the aide said.
Macron follows EU chiefs Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk in suggesting the UK could still reverse its decision to leave the 28 member bloc.