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The UK expects the European Union to approve its new migrant return agreement with France, according to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, despite France indicating the deal must be legally ratified before implementation.
Cooper said Friday that she believes the European Commission will endorse the pilot program, which will see some individuals who cross the Channel in small boats returned to France, while the UK will take in a number of asylum seekers from France with family ties in Britain.
Announced on Thursday by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, the plan would mark the first time France agrees to take back some Channel-crossers. However, key details—such as how many people will be returned and when the scheme will begin—remain unclear.
Speaking to LBC radio, Cooper expressed confidence that the plan wouldn't be held up by EU objections, even though countries like Italy, Greece, Spain, Malta, and Cyprus have raised concerns about migrants potentially moving back toward southern Europe.
“We’ve had discussions with EU commissioners as well as with other European interior ministers and governments,” Cooper said. “The French interior minister and I have been working on this since last October, and the commissioners have shown strong support. That’s why we’ve structured the scheme to address concerns not just for the UK and France, but for other EU partners too.”
When asked directly whether she was confident the EU would approve the deal, she replied, “Given the work we’ve done from the start, we do expect continued support from the Commission.”
She did not elaborate on how individual EU countries might respond.
The pilot plan was unveiled at the conclusion of Macron’s three-day state visit to the UK, aimed at strengthening post-Brexit ties. Under the deal, UK officials will select certain individuals for return to areas in France away from the northern coast. In exchange, the UK will accept some asylum seekers from France who can prove family connections in Britain.
Ministers hope the arrangement will deter people from attempting dangerous Channel crossings. However, they have declined to specify how many people will be returned or on what basis selections will be made.
“We’re not setting fixed numbers for the pilot or for any future phases,” Cooper noted.
Reports suggest the scheme could initially apply to just 50 people per week—about 6% of the current weekly average.
Criticizing the plan, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “The numbers are minimal. This means 94% of illegal migrants will still be allowed to stay in the UK, which offers no real deterrent.”
