The UK and France launch pilot schemes to further block the intersection of channels

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The UK and France have agreed to a new pilot scheme that allows some migrants crossing the British channel of small boats to be returned to France. He hopes that British Prime Minister Kielstarmer will take a more strict stance on illegal migration.

French President Emmanuel Macron in Starme announced plans on Thursday during Macron’s state visit to London.

Although the scope was limited, UK officials said they would welcome the deal as a breakthrough and set a precedent where illegally arriving migrants will be sent back across the channel.

“We don’t have silver bullets here, but with unified efforts, new tactics and new levels of intention, we can finally turn the table,” Stage told reporters at a press conference.

“For the first time, immigrants arrive via small boats will be detained and will return to France in a short period of time.”

Under the “One In In, One Out” arrangement, the UK will return many channel mating migrants to France, returning the same number of asylum seekers deemed to have legitimate claims.

The plan is expected to begin in a few weeks and is designed to stop the dangerous intersection that has become a powerful political issue in the UK. Over 21,000 people have arrived in the country this year, up 56% from the same period in 2024.

French media says it involves returning the arrival of up to 50 small boats to France each week. If successful, the exam is expected to increase significantly.

Macron said the agreement was intended to have deterrent effects. “I’m totally committed to making it work because this is clearly our will and our shared interest,” he said.

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The pilot scheme is part of a broader effort to rebuild Franco-British relations after years of tense bonds after Brexit.

Potential challenges include the extent to which the UK invests in police forces for small boats, the possibility of legal challenges in France, and opposition from other European countries.

The debate about stopping irregular movements across channels dates back decades. In the early 2000s, there was an effort focused on preventing captains from entering the UK via the vehicle’s channel tunnel. Recently, smugglers have become more and more sea routes.

Minnea Kuibas, a researcher at the Immigration Observatory at Oxford University, said:

“After the authorities crack down on it, they gradually see immigrants and gangs trying to adapt to it. And it’s a bit of a cat and mouse game.”

The previous conservative government’s controversial plan to expel asylum seekers to Rwanda was scrapped by priority shortly after he took office in July 2024.

Additional sources •AP

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