Britain is set to sign a landmark new deal with the European Union to tackle the migrant crisis, which will see UK Border Force personnel stationed in the Mediterranean and the Balkans to observe how staff manage their border security. The Home Office said this detail means the deal goes further than the arrangement Britain had with its partners when it was part of the EU.
Home Secretary James Cleverly is set to meet with European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson in the capital today to formally pen the agreement.
The deal between UK Border Force and Frontex, the EU border agency, is designed to “break the model of the smuggling gangs” and “stop the boats”.
According to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM), 751,434 migrants have arrived in Europe by sea and land since 2020. While more than 100,000 have crossed the Channel to Britain in that same period, according to Home Office and Ministry of Defence data.
Prior to meeting with Ms Johansson today, 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.”
However, Reform UK leader Richard Tice rubbished the idea that the new deal would make any difference in stopping the flow of boats arriving in Britain.
He told Express.co.uk that the Home Secretary was peddling “waffle words” and “no action”, claiming that the British people had “heard it all before”.
He added it was “ridiculous to suggest [it] will make any difference”.
Earlier today Mr Cleverly told LBC that he aimed to get the number of Channel crossings down to “zero”.
He told the station: “That is absolutely my target. My target is to achieve zero.”
Referring to the new Frontex deal, he added: “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.”
