The United Kingdom is seeking to establish a new migration agreement with the European Union that would enable it to negotiate individual return arrangements with member states. The proposed agreement is intended to streamline the process of returning migrants who enter the UK illegally.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the UK government is pursuing this strategy as part of broader efforts to manage migration flows and reduce the number of illegal crossings. The arrangement would not be a full EU-wide policy but would create a framework under which the UK could strike separate deals with countries such as France, Germany, or Italy for the return of certain migrants.
The move comes amid continued pressure on the UK government to address rising numbers of channel crossings and broader concerns over immigration control post-Brexit. Since leaving the EU in 2020, the UK no longer participates in the EU’s Dublin Regulation, which allowed for easier returns of asylum seekers to the first European country they entered.
Officials are currently engaging in discussions with EU counterparts to explore the feasibility of the proposed framework. If successful, it could mark a significant shift in UK-EU migration cooperation, potentially easing tensions while aligning with domestic priorities on immigration enforcement.
