The European Union has reportedly refused to grant Britain access to an illegal migrants database under a Brexit reset. Brussels has told UK negotiators the bloc can’t share information with police and immigration authorities in Britain, such as the fingerprints of illegal migrants.
Sources in Whitehall have told The Times that EU negotiators told their UK counterparts there could be no access to the Schengen Information System (SIS). Set up in 1995, the database allows certain countries to share information on security and border control. Britain won’t be able to access the bloc’s fingerprinting system, Eurodac, which records all migrants caught attempting to get into the EU without permission.
The EU’s refusal to grant the UK access to such systems would be a humiliating blow to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has highlighted improved access to such data as a key request.
Speaking in November, the PM said: “I’m absolutely clear that when it comes to cross border crime, particularly people smuggling, the more we can share, the better.”
News of the reported data-sharing refusal comes after the number of migrants crossing the English Channel so far this year topped 11,000.
Home Office officials had described access to the database as a “gamechanger” because it would let caseworkers identify individuals whose previous claims for asylum had been rejected, thus hastening their removal.
On rejecting UK access to the data, a source told The Times: “This is something we would see as mutually beneficial but so far there has been no movement.”
They added that Brussels’ argument appeared to be it would set a precedent and third parties can’t have access to Schengen databases.
The source added: “But it is frustrating, as it makes co-operation in areas like illegal migration much harder.”
A second source cited by the same publication accused the EU of being “intransigent” on data, while a third said London was only seeking a “workaround” to allow the UK and EU to share key data.
Before Brexit, the UK had limited access to the SIS database because of its membership of the EU but being outside the bloc’s Schengen zone where certain countries have abolished border controls. There are 25 EU members states and four non-members in the zone.
This week sees UK negotiators sit down for a week of talks with EU counterparts ahead of a Brexit reset summit on May 19.
Sir Keir wants to agree a defence pact with the EU, ease the flow of food trade between Britain and the bloc, and simplify electricity imports and exports.
The EU is pushing for visas to make it easier for young people to move between the UK and the European Union, on top of long-term access to Britain’s waters.
A Government spokesman told the Times: “We are not providing a running commentary on our discussions with the EU. These are ongoing and cover a wide range of issues.
“Together we want to build a safer, more secure and more prosperous UK and we have been clear that we will always act in the national interest to secure the best outcomes for the UK.”
