PHILIPSBURG--A quadripartite meeting between France, the Netherlands, St. Maarten and the Collectivité of Saint Martin took place on June 28, 2018. A joint declaration of cooperation was signed which aims to strengthen cooperation in all aspects; in particular, the cooperation between the French Border Police PAF and the Border Control and Protection Service on the Dutch side.
The parties agreed to the mutual presence of each other’s Immigration authorities in their ports. Since the passage of Hurricane Irma there is a need to monitor the migration flows on both sides of the island.
The presence of the PAF at Princess Juliana International Airport is more visible and the French border police, the Alpha Team and the Border Control and Protection Service are in contact with each other on a daily basis.
PAF controls have started at L’Espérance Airport in Saint Martin with members of the Alpha Team and the Border Control and Protection Service. This is the beginning of controls that will take place on a weekly basis and continuity of the existing good cooperation between the services of the two countries.
