The European Union has said it will first review the new UK-France migrant return agreement before deciding whether to support it. The deal, announced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to manage the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats.
Under this new pilot plan, about 50 migrants a week would be returned to France, while some others would be allowed to legally enter the UK and seek asylum. The idea is to create a safe and controlled way for migrants to apply, but only if they have not already tried to cross by boat.
The European Commission, which must be consulted on any migration agreement involving EU countries, said it wants to know more about the plan’s exact details. A spokesperson said they will assess whether the deal fits “with the spirit and the letter of the law.”
Although the UK says it is confident the plan will be accepted, five EU countries—Italy, Spain, Malta, Cyprus, and Greece—have already expressed concern. These countries sent a joint letter last month criticizing the deal. They believe the agreement may interfere with a new EU plan to handle migration across all member states fairly.
Why are some EU countries unhappy with the deal?
Some EU countries think the UK-France deal breaks EU rules by skipping wider EU approval. A diplomat from one of the five objecting countries said France may have made the deal to support UK public opinion, especially during a time when European governments are trying to keep the UK involved in European defence and security. However, the diplomat said they were surprised that France would go ahead with this without offering something more meaningful in return.
Experts say the European Commission may not be able to stop the deal even if they don’t agree with it. In the past, similar issues led to legal action, but countries can still decide to move forward unless stopped by court orders.
Yvette Cooper, the UK home secretary, said she believes the EU will approve the pilot scheme. She explained that UK officials have been in regular talks with EU commissioners and other European ministers since last year to make sure the plan works for everyone.
Even so, many parts of the deal are still unclear. It is not yet known how migrants will be selected, how many will eventually be returned, or when the plan will begin. Cooper confirmed that the plan would start small, with just 50 people a week, but said that future numbers have not been fixed yet.
Critics in the UK are also not fully convinced. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said that removing just 6% of the people who arrive by small boat will not be enough to stop illegal migration. He said the plan still allows most people who arrive this way to stay in the UK.
While both the UK and France seem eager to begin the pilot project, its success will depend on how it is received by EU officials and how it fits within existing migration laws.