PARIS, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) — French and British interior ministers will meet on Thursday and sign a cooperation agreement to stem immigrants flows who risked their lives to reach London via the Eurotunnel, French interior ministry said on Tuesday.

France‘s Bernard Cazeneuve and his British counterpart Theresa May are expected to visit French northern city of Calais on Thursday, where thousands of immigrants from Africa and Middle East are camping out, reports Xinhua.

They were trying to board lorries and trains heading to Britain in the hope of finding a better life in the British capital. Nine migrants have been killed while trying to cross to the city since early June.

During their visit, the two European officials “will sign a new Franco-British agreement to strengthen the common commitment to ensure the site (Eurotunnel) security, to fight against criminal networks of smugglers, trafficking in human beings and illegal migration.”

The deal also aimed at improving humanitarian situation with the contributions by associations and local authorities “particularly to protect the most vulnerable people,” the ministry said in a statement.

After Calais, Cazeneuve will travel to Berlin to meet his German counterpart Thomas de Maiziere for talks on Europe’s migration policies, it added