Latest news with #UKFranceDeal
The Independent
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Fierce opposition to deal aimed at tackling small boats crisis
Five EU countries – Italy, Greece, Spain, Malta, and Cyprus – have raised concerns about a proposed "one in, one out" migration deal between the UK and France. The deal, reportedly being negotiated by Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, would involve Britain returning small boat migrants to France in exchange for asylum seekers with UK family ties. These five nations, often the first point of entry for irregular migrants, fear the agreement could lead to asylum seekers being returned to their shores under existing EU rules. They have formally objected to the European Commission, arguing against a bilateral deal that could have direct or indirect consequences for other member states. The proposed UK-France deal is expected to be unveiled during Emmanuel Macron's visit to London in early July, following a significant increase in small boat crossings to the UK in early 2025.
Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Times
Five EU countries oppose one-in, one-out migrant scheme
Italy, Spain and three other European countries have attacked the UK's plans for a one-in, one-out migrant returns deal with France, warning it could leave them having to take back people returned from Britain to the Continent. Sir Keir Starmer and President Macron are working on an agreement that would allow Britain to send illegal migrants who cross the Channel in small boats back to France. In return Britain would accept migrants with a legitimate case for joining family in the UK. Five EU countries, including Greece, Malta and Cyprus, have sent a letter to the European Commission objecting to the proposals. They fear that existing EU rules would allow France to deport illegal migrants they receive from the UK back to the country where they first entered the bloc. 'We take note — with a degree of surprise — of the reported intention of France to sign a bilateral readmission arrangement,' the letter, seen by the Financial Times, said. 'Such an initiative raises serious concerns … procedurally and in terms of potential implications for other member states, particularly those of first entry.' A record number of small boats have arrived on UK shores this year BEN STANSALL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES The objections could potentially scupper the plan, which Downing Street hoped to announce at a summit with Macron early next month. It was due to start as a pilot to see if it reduced the 'pull factor' of the UK as a destination for illegal migration. Under the deal, a joint UK-France processing system would be set up to indentify migrants who have a valid claim for family reunification in Britain. For each migrant relocated to Britain, an illegal migrant would be returned to locations across France, away from its northern coast. Any migrant who made a return journey to the UK would be identified through their biometric details and sent back again. Government sources said that the pilot scheme would show 'proof of concept' and not repeat the 'mistakes' of the previous government's Rwanda scheme. They pointed to other progress that they hope will combine to start reducing the numbers of migrants arriving on small boats after a record high of 18,518 this year, which is 42 per cent higher than this time last year. French police are due to start implementing a law that will allow them to intercept migrant boats up to 300m into the sea within days in another move that UK ministers hope will reduce the numbers crossing.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK prepares to announce ‘one in, one out' migrant deal with France
A migrant removals deal between the UK and France involving a 'one-in, one-out' exchange agreement is reportedly close to being announced. Under the plan, a person being deported from the UK would be exchanged for another individual sent from France who has a right to be in Britain. Those arriving the UK would include people with a legitimate case for family reunification. According to a report in The Times, Sir Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron are preparing to announce the agreement next week in a bid to break the model of smuggling gangs using small boats for English Channel crossings. A government source told the newspaper: 'It'll start as a pilot but it's to prove the point that if you pay for your passage on a boat then you could quite quickly find yourself back in France.' The UK agreed a £480 million deal with France to beef up its efforts to stop migrants in 2023 under former prime minister Rishi Sunak. And on coming to power last year, Sir Keir vowed to 'smash the gangs' behind people-smuggling operations to bring down crossings. But according to Home Office figures, 17,817 people have made the crossing so far this year. This compares to 12,313 by the same date in 2024 and 10,518 in 2023 while 11,690 had made the crossing by June 20 in 2022. The migrant exchange plans previously surfaced in April when transport minister Lilian Greenwood said there were discussions 'ongoing' with the French government, but did not say what a future deal could look like. She told Sky News: 'I can confirm that there are discussions ongoing with the French government about how we stop this appalling and dangerous trade in people that's happening across the English Channel.' She later said that 'where people don't have a right to be here, they need to be returned'.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
UK prepares to announce ‘one in, one out' migrant deal with France
A migrant removals deal between the UK and France involving a 'one-in, one-out' exchange agreement is reportedly close to being announced. Under the plan, a person being deported from the UK would be exchanged for another individual sent from France who has a right to be in Britain. Those arriving the UK would include people with a legitimate case for family reunification. According to a report in The Times, Sir Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron are preparing to announce the agreement next week in a bid to break the model of smuggling gangs using small boats for English Channel crossings. A government source told the newspaper: 'It'll start as a pilot but it's to prove the point that if you pay for your passage on a boat then you could quite quickly find yourself back in France.' The UK agreed a £480 million deal with France to beef up its efforts to stop migrants in 2023 under former prime minister Rishi Sunak. And on coming to power last year, Sir Keir vowed to 'smash the gangs' behind people-smuggling operations to bring down crossings. But according to Home Office figures, 17,817 people have made the crossing so far this year. This compares to 12,313 by the same date in 2024 and 10,518 in 2023 while 11,690 had made the crossing by June 20 in 2022. The migrant exchange plans previously surfaced in April when transport minister Lilian Greenwood said there were discussions 'ongoing' with the French government, but did not say what a future deal could look like. She told Sky News: 'I can confirm that there are discussions ongoing with the French government about how we stop this appalling and dangerous trade in people that's happening across the English Channel.' She later said that 'where people don't have a right to be here, they need to be returned'.
