Germany to crack down on migrant smuggling gangs entering the UK
According to the BBC, Downing Street announced an agreement between the UK and Germany that will cover topics such as migration, business and defence.
The agreement will reportedly be signed on Thursday as part of the new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz's, first official UK visit.
According to the BBC, the new changes will make it illegal for people in Germany to enable migration to the United Kingdom.
Germany initially agreed to tighten its laws in December under the previous government, but Merz has now decided to change the law by the end of the year.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke about the new German chancellor's 'commitment' to changing the laws.
'Chancellor Merz's commitment to make necessary changes to German law to disrupt the supply lines of the dangerous vessels which carry illegal migrants across the Channel is hugely welcome,' Starmer said.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Age
6 hours ago
- The Age
‘Catastrophe must end now': European leaders unite on Gaza, divide on statehood
Frankfurt: European leaders have split over whether to recognise a Palestinian state after French President Emmanuel Macron made an urgent case to do so, highlighting divisions over the war in Gaza despite shared concern over civilian deaths. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer chose not to back the French call after they spoke with Macron, amid competing pressures on each leader over relations with Israel. But they sought to intensify pressure on Israel to end the attacks on Gaza and send urgent humanitarian aid to stop the starvation of Palestinian civilians. 'The humanitarian catastrophe that we are witnessing in Gaza must end now,' the three leaders said in a joint statement. 'The most basic needs of the civilian population, including access to water and food, must be met without any further delay. 'Withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable.' In a significant warning to Israel about its obligations under international law, the three leaders said the United Nations and non-government organisations should be allowed to distribute aid. 'We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and urgently allow the UN and humanitarian NGOs to carry out their work in order to take action against starvation,' they said. 'Israel must uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law.'

Sydney Morning Herald
6 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Catastrophe must end now': European leaders unite on Gaza, divide on statehood
Frankfurt: European leaders have split over whether to recognise a Palestinian state after French President Emmanuel Macron made an urgent case to do so, highlighting divisions over the war in Gaza despite shared concern over civilian deaths. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer chose not to back the French call after they spoke with Macron, amid competing pressures on each leader over relations with Israel. But they sought to intensify pressure on Israel to end the attacks on Gaza and send urgent humanitarian aid to stop the starvation of Palestinian civilians. 'The humanitarian catastrophe that we are witnessing in Gaza must end now,' the three leaders said in a joint statement. 'The most basic needs of the civilian population, including access to water and food, must be met without any further delay. 'Withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable.' In a significant warning to Israel about its obligations under international law, the three leaders said the United Nations and non-government organisations should be allowed to distribute aid. 'We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and urgently allow the UN and humanitarian NGOs to carry out their work in order to take action against starvation,' they said. 'Israel must uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law.'


The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Merz's 'militarisation' of Germany concerning: Russia
Russia has accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of pursuing a path of "militarisation", saying it is a cause for concern. Merz, a conservative who took office in May, has taken a more robust stance in support of Ukraine than his Social Democrat predecessor Olaf Scholz, while promising to increase pressure on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. He visited Kyiv within days of becoming chancellor, and endorsed Ukraine's right to launch long-range missile strikes into Russian territory. Under Merz, Germany plans to boost defence spending rapidly to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2029, having hit the previous NATO target of two per cent only in 2024. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told her weekly news briefing that Germany had pursued an openly hostile policy towards Russia in recent years, and that Merz was stepping up anti-Russian rhetoric "literally every day". "This rhetoric is becoming more and more aggressively militant. And we believe that the course he has chosen to escalate relations with Russia in parallel with the forced militarisation of Germany is a cause for great concern, first of all for the citizens of (Germany) themselves," Zakharova said. Berlin did not immediately comment on Zakharova's remarks. Russia has accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of pursuing a path of "militarisation", saying it is a cause for concern. Merz, a conservative who took office in May, has taken a more robust stance in support of Ukraine than his Social Democrat predecessor Olaf Scholz, while promising to increase pressure on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. He visited Kyiv within days of becoming chancellor, and endorsed Ukraine's right to launch long-range missile strikes into Russian territory. Under Merz, Germany plans to boost defence spending rapidly to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2029, having hit the previous NATO target of two per cent only in 2024. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told her weekly news briefing that Germany had pursued an openly hostile policy towards Russia in recent years, and that Merz was stepping up anti-Russian rhetoric "literally every day". "This rhetoric is becoming more and more aggressively militant. And we believe that the course he has chosen to escalate relations with Russia in parallel with the forced militarisation of Germany is a cause for great concern, first of all for the citizens of (Germany) themselves," Zakharova said. Berlin did not immediately comment on Zakharova's remarks. Russia has accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of pursuing a path of "militarisation", saying it is a cause for concern. Merz, a conservative who took office in May, has taken a more robust stance in support of Ukraine than his Social Democrat predecessor Olaf Scholz, while promising to increase pressure on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. He visited Kyiv within days of becoming chancellor, and endorsed Ukraine's right to launch long-range missile strikes into Russian territory. Under Merz, Germany plans to boost defence spending rapidly to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2029, having hit the previous NATO target of two per cent only in 2024. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told her weekly news briefing that Germany had pursued an openly hostile policy towards Russia in recent years, and that Merz was stepping up anti-Russian rhetoric "literally every day". "This rhetoric is becoming more and more aggressively militant. And we believe that the course he has chosen to escalate relations with Russia in parallel with the forced militarisation of Germany is a cause for great concern, first of all for the citizens of (Germany) themselves," Zakharova said. Berlin did not immediately comment on Zakharova's remarks. Russia has accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of pursuing a path of "militarisation", saying it is a cause for concern. Merz, a conservative who took office in May, has taken a more robust stance in support of Ukraine than his Social Democrat predecessor Olaf Scholz, while promising to increase pressure on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. He visited Kyiv within days of becoming chancellor, and endorsed Ukraine's right to launch long-range missile strikes into Russian territory. Under Merz, Germany plans to boost defence spending rapidly to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2029, having hit the previous NATO target of two per cent only in 2024. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told her weekly news briefing that Germany had pursued an openly hostile policy towards Russia in recent years, and that Merz was stepping up anti-Russian rhetoric "literally every day". "This rhetoric is becoming more and more aggressively militant. And we believe that the course he has chosen to escalate relations with Russia in parallel with the forced militarisation of Germany is a cause for great concern, first of all for the citizens of (Germany) themselves," Zakharova said. Berlin did not immediately comment on Zakharova's remarks.