Three key files top the first official talks between Macron and Burnham in London

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham held their first official talks in London, with migration and UK-EU relations taking center stage. The meeting took place at the UK government headquarters in London, following a previous encounter between Burnham and Macron the previous evening at the British Museum, where they attended an exhibition of the renowned French tapestry “Baiyo” in the presence of King Charles III.

Burnham and his wife, Marie-France van Heel, welcomed the French President and First Lady Brigitte Macron at the famous black door of Burnham’s residence at 10 Downing Street.

Burnham confirmed that he discussed the war in Ukraine, efforts to stop migrants crossing from France to England by boat, and “strengthening the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union.”

For his part, Macron described the meeting as a “highly significant moment” for bilateral relations, adding that they also discussed “new initiatives” in the Middle East, without going into details. He added, “I am here with the desire and determination to further strengthen relations between our two countries.”

The UK Prime Minister’s Office announced that Burnham and Macron discussed how to counter the “increasing use of large rubber boats,” or larger and more powerful vessels used to transport migrants across the Channel.

With this visit, Macron becomes the first EU leader and the second foreign head of state after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be received by Burnham at Downing Street. The visit holds particular significance for the French President as his presidential term nears its end in May 2027.

In a related development, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the crisis of illegal migration via small fishing boats is a shared European challenge that no single country can solve alone. In a statement coinciding with French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the UK, Burnham emphasized that, in cooperation with Paris and several international partners, order and border control would be restored by preventing smugglers from exploiting vulnerable migrants.

He noted that progress made during the current summer demonstrates what can be achieved when London and Paris cooperate, stressing the need for both sides to respond quickly and stay one step ahead of criminals facilitating dangerous crossings.

For her part, British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that efforts are underway to increase the number of police officers to record levels to combat small boat departures and pursue the gangs behind them. She clarified that these efforts are beginning to bear fruit, with more than 48,000 crossing attempts prevented, while the number of small boat crossings and deportation rates for those in the country illegally have fallen to record lows.