UK to fully fund migrant transport under new UK-France agreement

In a significant development aimed at curbing illegal crossings of the English Channel, the United Kingdom and France have agreed to a new “one in, one out” migrant returns scheme.

Under this pilot program, the UK will fully fund the transportation costs for migrants exchanged between the two nations. The initiative was announced by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, marking a collaborative effort to manage cross-Channel migration more effectively.

The agreement stipulates that for every irregular migrant arriving in the UK via small boats from France, the UK will return one individual to France. In exchange, the UK will accept an equal number of asylum seekers from France whose claims have a higher likelihood of success. This reciprocal arrangement aims to disrupt the operations of criminal smuggling networks and reduce the number of dangerous crossings.

To facilitate the smooth implementation of this scheme, the UK has committed to covering all transportation expenses associated with the returns and admissions. This includes the costs of detaining and returning migrants to France, as well as bringing approved asylum seekers into the UK. The initial phase of the program will involve a limited number of exchanges, approximately 50 per week, with the potential to increase as the system becomes more established.

The European Commission has welcomed the agreement, viewing it as a positive step towards curbing smuggling activities. However, concerns have been raised by southern EU countries, which fear that the deal could lead to increased pressure under the EU’s Dublin rules. To address these concerns, the agreement includes the formation of a monitoring committee with the Commission to oversee its implementation.

The deal is set to run until June 2026, with an option for extension. Both the UK and France have expressed optimism that this collaborative approach will lead to a significant reduction in the number of illegal crossings and enhance the safety of migrants attempting to cross the Channel. The success of the scheme will depend on effective coordination between the two nations and the ability to address the underlying factors driving irregular migration.