In a move to curb illegal migration across the Channel, Britain and France have unveiled a new pilot arrangement that will see some migrants arriving on UK shores swiftly returned to France. The initiative, announced at the close of President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit, is aimed at dismantling the thriving smuggling networks facilitating perilous small boat journeys.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the agreement as a decisive measure to undercut traffickers’ promises. He emphasised that the policy would send a clear signal: those attempting the crossing would find themselves back in France rather than gaining a foothold in Britain.
Under the arrangement, which is expected to launch within weeks, each returned migrant will be balanced by allowing another individual to enter the UK safely through legal routes. Though official figures remain undisclosed, British media suggest an initial return rate of around 50 migrants per week.
Macron, addressing reporters alongside Starmer, argued that Brexit had exacerbated cross-Channel migration challenges by cutting the UK off from EU-wide agreements on legal migration and returns, effectively closing off routes that once offered regulated alternatives.
The French president’s remarks are likely to rile Brexit hardliners, but Paris insists the pilot programme will help stabilise chaotic Channel crossings that have soared to record levels this year.
“So for people wanting to cross, there is no legal way, nor a way of sending people back after a crossing,” Macron said.
“This is a pull factor to attempt the crossing — exactly the inverse effect of what Brexit promised.”
Read also: French Troops Will Remain In Chad, Macron’s Envoy Insists
Beyond their headline migration deal, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron used the state visit to reinvigorate ties across defence, trade, and diplomacy.
Their discussions stretched from Europe to the Middle East, with both leaders reaffirming unwavering support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia. As part of that pledge, they announced a significant boost to the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), expanding its capacity fivefold to 50,000 troops, a step aimed at strengthening rapid deployment capabilities for crises in Europe and beyond.
The two allies also agreed to procure additional Storm Shadow cruise missiles — precision-guided, long-range weapons that have become vital assets for Ukrainian forces resisting Russian advances. Work will accelerate on developing the next generation of such systems as part of a broader “defence reboot” designed to deepen missile and nuclear cooperation between London and Paris.
On Thursday, Starmer and Macron dialled into a virtual summit of the 30-nation Ukraine coalition, revealing that its new operational headquarters has been set up in Paris. Talks are ongoing within the group to explore possible peacekeeping options if a ceasefire can be brokered.
In Middle East diplomacy, Macron called on Britain to join France in formally recognising a Palestinian state, describing such a step as critical to restoring hope for peace in the war-torn region.