UK Signs Agreement With EU Border Agency on Stopping Migrant Boats Crossing English Channel

Home Secretary James Cleverly and European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson at the Home Office for the document signing of an announcement of a new working arrangement between UK border agencies and the EU's border agency Frontex in central London on Friday Feb. 23, 2024. Aaron Chown/PA Media

The UK has signed an agreement with the European Union’s border agency that aims to stop migrants illegally crossing the English Channel in small boats.

Home Secretary James Cleverly welcomed European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson to the Home Office in London on Friday for the signing of the new arrangement between the UK’s Border Force and Frontex, the border management agency for the EU.

The deal will see increased cooperation between Border Force and its European counterparts, including collaborations on training, joint operations, and the exchange of intelligence.

Mr. Cleverly said: “This government has a plan to break the model of the smuggling gangs, end the abuse of our asylum system, and stop the boats. The plan is working with crossings down by a third—but we must go further.

“Organised immigration crime and people-smuggling are global challenges that require shared solutions and ambitions. Our landmark working arrangement between the UK and Frontex is another crucial step in tackling illegal migration, securing our borders and stopping the boats.”

Deal With France to Curb Illegal Migration

The signing followed discussions between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that took place at the Council of Europe Summit in Iceland on May 16, 2023, where the leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation between the UK and the bloc on migration.

On Sunday, Mr. Sunak and Ms. Von der Leyen welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations during a telephone call, which led to the agreement being formalised on Friday.

The agreement is as part of wider cooperation between the UK and the EU on tackling illegal migration.

In November 2022, France and the UK signed a new deal to curb illegal migration in which London agreed to increase annual payments to Paris from £55 million to £63 million a year.

In return, France would increase beach patrols and deploy 40 percent more officers. The money would also be spent on migrant centres and border force equipment, helicopters, detection dog teams, and surveillance equipment such as CCTV and drones.

Cleverly Aims for ‘Zero’ English Channel Crossings

The prime minister had made “stopping the boats” one of his five priorities in 2023, saying in May of that year, “Illegal migration is not fair on British taxpayers, it is not fair on those who come here legally, and it is not right that criminal gangs should be allowed to continue their immoral trade.”

“I am determined to deliver on my promise to stop the boats. So make no mistake, if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay,” Mr. Sunak added.

The number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats last year was 29,437, down from 2022, when 45,755 people arrived. So far this year, 1,716 migrants have made the crossing, down from 2,720 in the same period in 2023.

Last month, the home secretary told LBC, “My target is to bring it down to zero. I’m completely committed.”

“My target is to reduce it to zero, to stop the boats, and I’m unambiguous about that,” he added.

(Front, left to right) Director General of Border Force Phil Douglas and Executive Director of Frontex Hans Leijtens sign a document watched by (back, left to right) Home Secretary James Cleverly and European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, at the Home Office, in central London, on Feb. 23, 2024. Aaron Chown/PA Media

Asked on Friday how realistic that goal is this year, Mr. Cleverly said: “I want to get to zero as soon as possible.

“The agreement that we’re signing today will be a big assistance in doing that, as will Rwanda, and as will the other things we’ve been doing.”

Rwanda Bill

The agreement comes as the government’s Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill makes its way through the report stage in the House of Lords, which gives peers a further opportunity to examine and make amendments to the bill.

The bill aims to compel UK judges to regard Rwanda as a safe country, which should pave the way for the Home Office to send migrants who arrive in the country illegally, including those who cross the English Channel in small boats, to Kigali.

The prime minister had made an agreement with the east African country to send them migrants in April 2022, but the European Court of Human Rights blocked the first flight in June 2022, with the UK’s Supreme Court ruling in November 2023 that the plans were unlawful.

The UK agreed to a new legally binding treaty with Rwanda which addressed concerns from the courts, and Mr. Sunak announced plans to introduce emergency legislation which would “enable Parliament to confirm that with our new treaty, Rwanda is safe.”

The Safety of Rwanda Bill was introduced to Parliament in December 2023.

PA Media contributed to this report.