European Union. Prime Minister David Cameron is urging the nation to stay in the EU -- and

this is one of the major reasons why. This is the Calais ‘Jungle’ -- an expansive

migrant camp in Calais, northern France. Here many attempt to reach the UK everyday by illegally

crossing the Channel, by ferry or through the Eurotunnel. Though Calais does have one

of the most secure borders in Europe, Cameron is concerned that this could change if the

British Exit from the EU or “Brexit”, should go through. So why exactly is the Calais

border in jeopardy and what does it mean for the UK?

In the last year, wave after wave of migrants have arrived at the Calais Jungle, and thousands

have attempted to illegally cross the border into the UK. Migrants from war-torn countries

like Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan, try to scale or break through fences in order to

climb onto trains or trucks going across the Channel to England.

Life in the camp is hard and people here live in squalid conditions, with very little food

and no access to basic amenities. The camp is now being dismantled, yet many migrants

are still risking life and limb to try and reach the UK. Like France, the UK government

offers allowances in housing, healthcare and education to refugees. But because many migrants

speak English, the UK is more desireable as many believe that finding work will be easier

there.

But few ever make it across the Channel because of the the strict security on the Calais border.

The border is well financed and that’s attributed to a pact between the UK and France, called

the Le Touquet Treaty. Formed in 2003, the treaty allows British immigration officials

to conduct passport checks on French soil and allows French immigration to do the same

in the UK. As David Cameron points out, what this technically means, is that the UK border

falls in France.

...It's an agreement that means that our borders are effectively in Calais not in Dover. That

is good for Britain. I want us to keep that.

That is why we've helped with fencing, that's why we've helped with finances, that's why

we've helped with border guards and cooperation and all the rest of it.

In fact, it’s estimated that the UK government is set to spend 12 million pounds on Calais

border security over the next three years. And some of that money has already gone toward

expanding security fences and monitoring, conducted by heavily-armed French riot police

and CCTV cameras.

So why is it so critical for the UK to maintain their security measures in Calais? Well, in

order to claim asylum in Britain under the 1951 Geneva Convention, migrants can only

apply for refugee status if they are on UK soil. So if the Calais border, complete with

UK checkpoints is maintained, migrants have virtually zero chance of ever setting foot

on UK territory and therefore can’t qualify for asylum there.

And this is what David Cameron is afraid Britain’s exit from the EU, will destroy. He’s concerned

that France will dissolve the Le Touquet Treaty, meaning the UK border in Calais will have

to return to British shores.

The fact is there are a lot of opposition politicians in France who would love an excuse

to tear up that treaty and would like the border not to be in France but to be in Britain.

Essentially, he’s worried that there will be little stopping migrants from entering

the UK. And French President Francois Hollande has certainly added fuel to Cameron’s fears

over the Brexit, commenting,

“there will be consequences ... especially in the way we handle the situation in terms

of immigration.”

In other words, Hollande is issuing a warning to the UK. Which is why Cameron is being so

outspoken about staying in the European Union.

If we can get this deal in Europe...You know that the borders stay in Calais, you know

that we have a seat determining (sic) the rules when it comes to the future of Europe...

Though Cameron continues to argue that he is trying to protect the UK from having it’s

own Calais Jungle, some critics say that he is merely trying to scare the British people

into staying in the EU. Whatever the case may be, the Prime Minister seems determined

not to move the UK border from France.

David Cameron may not want to leave the European Union but there are many others in the UK

that would like to go. Check out this video on Why The UK Wants To Leave The EU.

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