Nearly 200 individuals who arrived by small boats have been sent back to France as part of an agreement where for each person returned, another is allowed entry into the UK, a government official disclosed.
During a session with peers, Alex Norris shared that the UK Government is looking to establish similar pacts with other European countries to combat criminal organizations involved in human trafficking. Since October, 193 people have been repatriated to France while 195 have been permitted to enter the UK under this reciprocal arrangement.
Norris, the Borders Minister, informed the Lords International Agreements Committee that efforts are underway to gain access to the Eurodac database, which stores biometric data of recent arrivals. He emphasized the functionality of the current agreement, stating that although it may not fulfill all aspirations, it is operational and effective.
Acknowledging France’s cooperation in the process, Norris mentioned that the country is actively engaged in preventing small boat arrivals. He highlighted the negative impact of illegal migration, stressing that organized criminals exploit these situations, leading to issues like violence, drug trafficking, and prostitution across Europe.
Expressing a desire to address perceived leniency, Norris stated that European nations view the UK as too soft and outlined plans to negotiate similar agreements with more countries. He emphasized the financial benefits of the scheme and expressed the government’s intent to expand the network of participating nations.
Additionally, Norris mentioned the importance of gaining access to the Eurodac security database, which contains vital information like fingerprints and facial images of asylum seekers and irregular migrants. Lack of access to this data, he explained, hinders the ability to track individuals who may have applied for asylum in other European countries, underscoring the need for enhanced information sharing among European partners.