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 Elysee Palace before heading insight for crunch talks.
French President Emmanuel Macron (right) shakes hands with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left)
The world leaders are meeting today for the Franco-British Summit, which will be 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 £200 million deal with France to end 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 across the channel.
The money is expected to be handed over 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 per cent last year to 75 per cent.
When it reaches this level it’s understood it will destroy the business model of the gangs.
Joining Mr Sunak at the summit will be 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 top Tories will meet with their French counterparts across the day.
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”.
