In Calais, hundreds of migrants - often young men - crawl under fences and onto train tracks every night, waiting for a chance to stow away on freight trains traveling to England via the Eurotunnel. Others try to hop on the back of delivery trucks or ferries headed the same way.

Both methods are risky. Out of the hundreds of people that try their luck, only a handful ever succeed. Some even die trying.

But there is still little that would convince the migrants to stop striving to reach England, where they hope for jobs and a chance for a better life. Many of the wannabe stowaways already risked their lives at least once in dangerous sea or land journeys to Europe.

But as the situation continues unresolved, the costs for all sides - especially logistics and transport businesses active around the English Channel - keep growing.

Those companies have complained of lost revenue as delays, cancellations and accidents pile up. Periodic striking by Calais port workers have only made things worse.

DW