Unlock Editor’s Digest Lock for Free
Italy, Spain and three other southern EU countries have criticised the proposed Franco and British immigration deal, claiming that people who have returned to the continent must be reclaimed from the UK.
Five countries, including Greece, Malta and Cyprus, sent letters to the European Commission, which was seen in the Times of Finance, challenged France, negotiated arrangements to negotiate with asylum seekers, and exchanged the UK to stop migrants from crossing the boat’s waterways.
“We remember some surprise at the reported intention to sign a bilateral readmission arrangement in France,” it reads.
“If confirmed, such initiatives raise serious concerns to us both in the potential impact of other member states, particularly in the first entry,” they wrote in a letter sent last week.
The exact terms of the Franco British transaction remain unknown, but the principle is to return irregular immigrants to France, while the UK has accepted asylum seekers in search of resettlement. Such a swap first attempted to stop the boat crossing into Greece with the EU’s transition agreement with Türkiye.
British officials admitted that “the final hurdle takes longer than expected.” French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit London on July 8th.
As part of the “reset” agreement signed in May, the EU and the UK have pledged to tackle a “practical and innovative approach” to reduce irregular transitions. However, division within the EU and demands from the UK have hampered a wider agreement on migration.
Instead, the UK is calling for a bilateral agreement with the European capital on the most sensitive issue of “small boats.” By March, 38,000 people had crossed the waterways on small boats, according to the government.
The Mediterranean group opposed bilateral negotiations on a contract with France rather than as part of the EU-UK “reset” deal.
Five signatories – the first call port for those taking dangerous journeys from Africa to Europe, often means that the initiative will allow France to use EU regulations to return asylum seekers to their first entry.
“We believe it is essential to clarify whether the agreement could have direct or indirect consequences for other member states,” the country writes.
The letter comes after British Prime Minister Kiel starmer sought advice from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia to curb irregular migration.
One EU official said in negotiations with the UK that “there was a very strong front on the EU side, with no cherry picking,” and they were disappointed that the issue was exempt from now on. “We would have hoped it would be in the context of our joint negotiations.”
The proposed asylum seeker exchange between France and the UK reflects the 2016 agreement between the EU and Turkey. The Bloc agreed to take Syrian refugees from Turkish refugee camps in return for all the Syrians who returned Greece crossed the border in an irregular manner.
There are few actual swaps, but Turkey’s Recept Tayyip Erdogan has stopped the Syrian refugee spill as the EU agreed to pay 6 billion euros in immigration assistance. That amount has since reached over 12 billion euros.
The European Commission confirmed that it had received the letter. “We are in touch with the French and British authorities to ensure that we provide the necessary explanations,” the spokesman said. “We are working with France, the UK and other EU member states to support solutions that are compatible with EU law and letters.”
The committee added that the rise in people smuggling across the channel is “uncertain” and deserves “robust responses to stop dangerous journeys.”
Additional reports by Anna Gross of London, Adrian Krasa of Paris and Andy Bound of Brussels.
