International

Stalled UK-France migrant deal prompts urgent talks amid political turmoil and operational challenges

Friday, 24 October 2025 4:09AM UTC

Efforts to curb Channel crossings face delays as political instability and safety concerns threaten to undermine a landmark migration deal between the UK and France, with new talks expected to reinvigorate stalled plans.

Keir Starmer is expected to press French President Emmanuel Macron to advance the contentious plans to intercept migrants in French waters amid reports the initiative has stalled. The scheme, initially hailed as a “game changer,” was agreed upon by the two leaders at a summit in July 2025 as part of a broader effort to curb the rising numbers of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. Despite Downing Street's insistence that the plans remain on track, sources indicate political instability in France, opposition from French police unions, and changes in the French government have delayed implementation.

The plan involves French authorities intercepting ‘taxi boats’ before they reach open water, in collaboration with UK Border forces, under an agreement often termed the ‘one in, one out’ policy. This approach was intended to complement a new bilateral migration protocol, aiming to return migrants arriving illegally in the UK back to France while the UK accepts asylum seekers from France who meet eligibility criteria, such as those fleeing conflict zones or seeking family reunification. The deal draws inspiration from previous European agreements like the 2016 EU-Turkey deal and represents a significant post-Brexit cooperation effort between both nations to manage migration flows.

However, the deal has faced significant hurdles. French police unions have voiced safety concerns about intercepting small boats at sea, citing risks to officers' lives. The political environment in France has also been a factor, with the prime minister and interior minister, who originally agreed to the tactics, replaced after the summer months. An incident in July where French police slashed the hull of a migrant boat was reported by some French sources as a one-off “political stunt,” contributing to questions over the plan’s seriousness and longevity. This aggressive approach to tackling small boat crossings, involving puncturing migrant boats, has drawn sharp criticism from humanitarian groups and heightened tensions between the two countries.

The UK government regards the ‘one in, one out’ policy as a vital step forward, emphasizing its role in deterring dangerous crossings. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy highlighted the deportation of an Iranian man, who was returned to France after arriving illegally by dinghy, as a sign of progress. Children's Minister Josh MacAlister underscored the government’s clear stance that repeat illegal crossings would be met with repeated deportations. Yet critics argue this case exposes flaws in Labour’s claims that the scheme effectively deters migrants, pointing to the limited scale and ongoing challenges in enforcing the agreement.

Data indicate a significant rise in Channel crossings over recent years, with government figures showing over 30,000 migrants making the perilous journey in 2025 alone, a 56% increase compared to the previous year. In June 2025, France amended its rules of engagement to allow interception of UK-bound boats up to 300 meters offshore, aiming to prevent these crossings before boats enter open waters. This was a key topic at the summit between Macron and Starmer, who also reinforced defence cooperation and broader bilateral relations.

French President Macron acknowledged migration as a shared burden between France and the UK, stressing the need for humane and fair solutions. Both leaders agreed on the urgency of creating new deterrents to stem the flow of irregular crossings and shared responsibility in managing migration. Still, legal and humanitarian challenges remain. The agreement awaits legal validation from bodies such as the European Commission, and there are ongoing concerns about the dehumanising impact of measures that critics say do not address the root causes of migration.

UK officials maintain the new migration policies mark a significant shift from previous approaches, notably replacing controversial Conservative proposals like relocating migrants to Rwanda. Instead, the current arrangement focuses on rapid returns between France and the UK and accelerating the processing of asylum claims. Nonetheless, recent legal challenges—such as a court blocking the deportation of an Eritrean asylum-seeker over trafficking concerns—highlight the complexities the governments face.

In sum, while the Franco-British cooperation on migration represents a diplomatic milestone with potential to alter the dynamics of Channel crossings, its practical effects remain uncertain amid political instability, operational challenges, humanitarian criticism, and legal obstacles. The forthcoming discussions between Starmer and Macron are expected to seek commitments to reinvigorate the stalled plans and tackle both immediate migration management and the broader political and humanitarian issues underlying the crisis.

📌 Reference Map:

Paragraph 1 – ^[1] Daily Mail, ^[6] Al Jazeera
Paragraph 2 – ^[1] Daily Mail, ^[2] AP News, ^[4] Le Monde
Paragraph 3 – ^[1] Daily Mail, ^[7] Le Monde
Paragraph 4 – ^[1] Daily Mail
Paragraph 5 – ^[1] Daily Mail, ^[5] AP News
Paragraph 6 – ^[2] AP News, ^[3] Reuters
Paragraph 7 – ^[6] Al Jazeera, ^[4] Le Monde
Paragraph 8 – ^[5] AP News, ^[4] Le Monde
Paragraph 9 – ^[1] Daily Mail, ^[6] Al Jazeera, ^[7] Le Monde

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15222223/France-small-boats-surrender-Macron-migrant-taxis.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://apnews.com/article/33d17944840acdfbd991d13eea7ef854 - In July 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on a pilot plan to return some migrants arriving in Britain via small boats back to France. This 'one in, one out' arrangement aims to deter dangerous crossings of the English Channel, which had increased by 56% compared to the previous year. The initiative also includes cooperation on stopping boats at the French coast and new defense agreements, reinforcing the countries' roles within NATO. The summit marked a strengthening of bilateral ties post-Brexit, focusing on shared challenges in migration, defense, and international stability.
https://www.reuters.com/world/france-aims-intercept-uk-bound-migrant-boats-offshore-channel-crossings-surge-2025-06-18/ - In June 2025, France announced plans to revise its rules of engagement to allow authorities to intercept UK-bound small boats up to 300 meters offshore. This policy shift aims to curb the surge in crossings driven by favorable weather and more efficient boat-packing methods. The new measures were intended to be presented at the July summit between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, emphasizing migration as a priority issue.
https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2025/07/11/migration-la-france-accepte-un-accord-de-retour-avec-le-royaume-uni_6620583_3210.html - During a state visit to London, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer concluded an agreement on cross-Channel migration. The new protocol involves returning approximately 50 migrants per week who illegally crossed the Channel in 'small boats' and are deemed ineligible for the UK due to coming from safe countries. In exchange, the UK will accept asylum seekers from France who are nearly automatically eligible (Afghans, Syrians) or involved in family reunification, via an online system. Inspired by the 2016 EU-Turkey agreement, this 'one in, one out' deal marks a turning point, though its volumes remain limited compared to the 21,000 crossings recorded since the beginning of 2025. The agreement awaits legal validation, notably from the European Commission, with Paris aiming to integrate the approach into a broader European perspective. While London has committed to increasing funding to secure the border, the project is criticized by humanitarian associations for being ineffective and dehumanizing. Both leaders view it as a gesture of post-Brexit reconciliation.
https://apnews.com/article/b341cee5f66c43359303c74b9995e633 - The UK has enacted a new 'one in, one out' migration policy aimed at curbing unauthorized migrant crossings of the English Channel. Under this initiative, the UK deported the first migrant—a man who arrived by boat in August—back to France. The government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, claims this move underscores its commitment to controlling unauthorized migration, which has surged, with over 30,000 people crossing this year alone. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized that illegal entrants will be removed. This policy comes as an alternative to the scrapped Conservative plan to relocate migrants to Rwanda. Instead, the UK now has an agreement with France to exchange migrants, sending some back to France while accepting others from France with family ties in the UK. However, legal challenges remain, evidenced by a recent court ruling blocking the deportation of an Eritrean asylum-seeker pending human trafficking concerns. Despite the policy's limited initial scope, UK officials hail it as a breakthrough in managing asylum-seeker flows, with parallel efforts to speed up claim processing and reduce hotel accommodations for migrants.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/10/uks-starmer-hosts-frances-macron-for-migration-talks-during-state-visit - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed on the need for a 'new deterrent' to stop refugee and migrant crossings across the English Channel. The leaders agreed that tackling the threat of irregular migration and small boat crossings is a shared priority that requires shared solutions. Macron addressed the British parliament on Tuesday, promising to deliver on measures to cut the number of people crossing the English Channel, describing the issue as a 'burden' to both countries. He also said that France and the UK had a 'shared responsibility to address irregular migration with humanity, solidarity and fairness'.
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/03/23/french-police-use-aggressive-techniques-to-stop-migrants-from-crossing-english-channel_6648196_7.html - French law enforcement is employing aggressive methods to prevent migrants from crossing the English Channel as part of a crackdown supported by British funds. Techniques include puncturing boats at sea, which has led to dangerous and life-threatening situations for the migrants. Testimonies from migrants like Ziko, who experienced their boat being deliberately deflated at sea, highlight the peril these practices pose. Authorities maintain these actions are isolated incidents and emphasize their primary role in rescue operations. Nevertheless, internal documents and reports reveal that the French Interior Ministry has designated these interventions as 'interceptions at sea,' contradicting official policy. The contentious methods have strained UK-France relations, where the UK funded €543 million to bolster anti-migration measures. Meanwhile, organizations and experts criticize these practices for endangering lives and breaching maritime laws. There have been rising numbers of deaths attributed to these dangerous tactics, and ongoing investigations seek to uncover the extent and impact of these interventions.

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The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

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Notes: The narrative is based on a recent UK government press release from August 7, 2025, about detentions under the UK-France treaty. Multiple reputable sources confirm the information, indicating it is current and original. No discrepancies or outdated content were found.

Migration
UK-France Relations
Border Security