Britain and the European Union have reached an agreement to enhance cooperation in addressing illegal migration, marking a positive development in their post-Brexit relationship. The deal allows U.K. border agencies and Frontex, the EU's border and coast guard agency, to share intelligence for border security and combatting organized immigration crime. Additionally, the agreement includes provisions for joint training, staff deployments, and collaboration on research and development of new technologies.
Notably, the agreement does not entail a bilateral returns agreement, meaning that neither party is obligated to accept asylum-seekers under burden-sharing arrangements among EU member states. U.K. Home Secretary emphasized the global nature of organized immigration crime and the need for collaborative solutions to address these challenges.
Relations between the U.K. and the EU have shown signs of improvement in recent months, following the completion of the Brexit process in early 2021. The current U.K. Prime Minister has been working to strengthen ties with European neighbors, including rejoining the EU's science-sharing program Horizon Europe.
Illegal immigration has been a key focus for the U.K. government, with efforts to reduce the number of arrivals via small boats across the English Channel. While there has been a decrease in arrivals compared to previous years, the government remains committed to further reducing illegal immigration.
The political landscape in the U.K. is evolving, with the Conservative Party facing challenges in opinion polls and competition from a new hard-right political party that emphasizes immigration issues. As the U.K. prepares for a general election, the government's approach to immigration and border security is likely to remain a prominent issue.
