Britain will not follow Italy’s approach of intercepting and returning migrant boats to their point of origin, according to Dame Angela Eagle, the UK’s minister for border security. The decision comes as the UK faces increasing pressure to tackle migrant crossings in the English Channel. Eagle explained that the UK could not turn back boats without the agreement of France, whose authorities argue that doing so would breach maritime law and endanger the safety of migrants unless they request help.
The issue has become a point of contention between the UK and France, with videos circulating showing French navy and border force vessels escorting migrant boats to the mid-point of the Channel, where they are then picked up by British Border Force vessels and taken to the UK. French officials maintain that they will only intervene if migrants request assistance, making the interception of vessels in French waters a violation of maritime laws.
In contrast, Italy has taken a more aggressive stance by striking a £90 million deal with Tunisia, where the Tunisian border force turns back migrant boats and returns them to their country. While the UK has a £490 million agreement with France, Dame Angela clarified that this would not include similar tactics, as France does not agree to having migrants returned to its shores.
Eagle also raised concerns about increasing violence on French beaches, where police officers have been attacked by smugglers and migrants. She indicated that the UK is working with French authorities to improve law enforcement cooperation and ensure that violent offenders are brought to justice. This cooperation is part of broader efforts to disrupt human trafficking networks operating across the Channel.
Her comments come in the wake of a meeting between Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, where they discussed Italy’s success in reducing Mediterranean crossings by over 60 percent. Starmer’s visit was seen as an attempt to learn from Italy’s methods, though Eagle stressed that the UK was not endorsing all of Italy’s policies, particularly as they involve offshore processing of asylum seekers in Albania.
The UK is monitoring the Italian-Albanian arrangement closely to determine whether it would be feasible and legal for the UK to adopt a similar policy. Eagle emphasized that any solution pursued by the UK must be workable, cost-effective, and in compliance with international law.
The debate over how to handle migrant crossings intensified following a tragedy off the French coast, where eight migrants died after their boat hit rocks and sank. This brought the total number of migrant deaths this year to at least 45, a significant increase compared to last year. So far in 2024, over 23,000 migrants have made the dangerous journey across the Channel in 448 boats, a similar figure to last year but lower than the record crossings of 2022.
The UK government is continuing to explore ways to tackle human smuggling networks. As part of these efforts, Eagle announced an additional £75 million investment to bolster the UK’s border security command. This funding will increase the number of UK investigators stationed at Europol and enhance intelligence-sharing across Europe to disrupt smuggling operations.
While the UK looks for solutions, the complex nature of international law and cooperation between nations remains a significant challenge in addressing the ongoing migrant crisis.