LONDON/PARIS — The United Kingdom and France have formally agreed to a new pilot scheme aimed at reducing the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.
Announced during a joint appearance in Paris, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the launch of a «one in, one out» returns programme. The initiative, set to begin within weeks, marks a significant step in renewed UK-France cooperation on border security and immigration control.
Under the scheme, migrants who arrive in the UK via small boat will be detained and swiftly returned to France. In return, for each individual repatriated, another person will be granted legal entry into the UK through a secure and controlled pathway.
The pilot programme is expected to operate on a limited scale initially, with reports indicating around 50 returns per week. Both governments view the agreement as a test case that could be expanded depending on its effectiveness.
The move follows months of speculation and intense bilateral negotiations, amid growing political pressure in the UK to address the sharp rise in irregular Channel crossings.