The situation in and around the port town of Calais is untenable for everyone: migrants and asylum seekers living in the informal camps, truck drivers crossing to the British Isles and the local population, said MEPs in a plenary debate on Tuesday. Most urged the EU Commission, France and the UK to work together to find a long-term solution.

Many speakers pointed to the terrible conditions in the camp known as “the jungle” and showed special concern about the high number of unaccompanied minors in the area and the risks they face.

“We are aware of the situation”, Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos assured MEPs, stating that his aims are to ensure that the border functions properly, improve the management of  migration flows and guarantee better living conditions for migrants and asylum seekers.

Mr Avramopoulos welcomed the French government’s plans to dismantle  “the jungle” by the end of the year and encouraged the French and UK authorities to coordinate the work of their border and security forces to ease traffic flows and guarantee safety in the area.