Calais
Latest news and important information from Calais.
Duty free and frequent ferries: French port of Calais unveils €863 million revamp
The city of Calais in northern France inaugurated its extended port on Thursday after six years of construction work. Authorities hope to attract British tourists with more frequent ferries and tax-free sales.
Six reasons to visit Calais (apart from duty-free shopping)
The mayor of Calais has outlined plans to create duty-free stores throughout the town to take advantage of Brexit - but there are actually lots of reasons to visit this lovely northern French town apart from cheap booze and fags.
Thousands of trucks mass at Dover in cross-Channel chaos
France and Britain reopened cross-Channel travel on Wednesday December 23 after a 48-hour ban to curb the spread of a new coronavirus variant but London has warned it could take days for thousands of trucks blocked around the port of Dover to get moving.
French mayor tells UK's Boris Johnson to 'calm down' over migrant crossings
The mayor of the French port city of Calais on Thursday told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to "calm down" and change strategy in dealing with migrants crossing from France.
Channel migrant crossings in sharp decline: France
The number of migrants trying to smuggle across the Channel from France to Britain by boat has fallen sharply after a spike late last year, authorities in northern France said late on Thursday.
'We're not ready for Brexit': French customs officers' protest hits Calais and Eurostar
An ongoing protest by French customs officers, who say France isn't ready for Brexit, continued to cause major disruption around Calais on Wednesday. There were also delays to Eurostar services as officials launched similar protests at Gare du Nord.
Major disruption at Calais as French customs officers continue Brexit protest
French customs officials warned of lengthy delays at the port of Calais on Tuesday as their strike to demand greater resources to deal with the impact of Brexit, snarled traffic for a second day, leading to queues of trucks measuring several kilometres (miles).
Traffic jams hit Channel ports as French customs officials strike over Brexit
Long traffic jams formed on Monday at French Channel ports after customs officers staged a work-to-rule strike to press demands for extra staff and more pay ahead of Britain's departure from the EU.
Migrants scramble aboard Calais ferry, sparking police sweep
Migrants hoping to reach Britain scrambled aboard a cross-Channel ferry in the northern French port of Calais, sparking a vast police sweep of the ship, officials said Sunday.
France clears 1,800 UK-bound migrants from Dunkirk camp
French police cleared 1,800 migrants from a makeshift camp near Dunkirk on Tuesday, hoping to deter people-traffickers seeking to smuggle them across the Channel to Britain.
Thousands gather across Europe to back migrant rescue ship stuck in Marseille port
Thousands of people attended rallies Saturday across Europe to show support for migrant rescue ship Aquarius, stuck in port in the French city of Marseille after Panama revoked its flag.
French city cans vegan festival after threats from 'farmers and hunters'
A French city cancelled a planned vegan festival Friday citing fears of public disorder, in a move organisers blamed on threats from "hunters and farmers", as distrust of meat-free activism simmers in the traditionally carnivorous country.
Five Iranian migrants found drifting off French coast
Five Iranian migrants attempting to reach Britain aboard a makeshift boat were rescued Saturday morning off the northern coast of France, officials said.
Calais could see traffic chaos on all roads after Brexit, port chief warns
The northern English Channel port of Calais, the gateway to the UK, could see tailbacks up to 30 miles long in all directions after Brexit, the port's chief has warned as he pleads to Britain and the EU to take steps to avoid border chaos.
Calais: Four migrants critically injured after being shot in two-hour brawl
Four migrants were in critical condition after being shot and more than a dozen others were injured, some seriously, during clashes in the northern French port of Calais between Afghans and Africans, local authorities said.
French fishermen block Calais port to demand ban on North Sea pulse fishing
French fishermen on Thursday blocked the port of Calais, preventing cross-Channel ferries arriving or departing, to demand a ban on electric pulse fishing in the North Sea.
UK to accept 260 unaccompanied minors from France
Britain will take in 260 unaccompanied migrant children from France under a deal struck at a summit between Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron, the British government said on Friday.
OPINION: Britain throwing even more money at security in Calais is not the answer
Spending €50 million on more fences, walls, police and CCTV cameras will not solve the migrant crisis at Calais, only Britain taking on its real responsibilities will, aid groups argue
UK to pay France extra €50 million to boost security at Calais port
British Prime Minister Theresa May has agreed to stump up millions more in cash to help France boost security at the UK border in Calais. Reports say the sum could amount to €50 million and will be announced on Thursday.
France a beacon of human rights? Calais migrants tell different story
"France, the country of human rights? Only if you're French!" snorts Jacob Garji, one of hundreds of migrants living rough in Calais who are hunted nightly by police.
Britain should bear more migrant costs at Calais: minister
French interior minister Gerard Collomb said Sunday that he wanted London to shoulder more of the costs of dealing with migrants hoping to cross to Britain from the port city of Calais.
Migrants seek refuge in small Normandy port
A year after France dismantled the notorious "Jungle" migrant camp at Calais, nearly 100 Africans can be found living out in the cold in the northern port of Ouistreham.
Police open fire on charging migrant car in Calais
French police opened fire Saturday on a car carrying migrants near the port of Calais as it sped toward a group of officers trying to halt it for a check, authorities said.