Britain and Germany have agreed on a joint action plan to combat migrant smuggling, as European interior and migration ministers met in London on Tuesday to strengthen cooperation against the growing crisis.
The meeting, chaired by UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, included ministers from Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Germany, as well as representatives from Europol, Frontex, and the European Commission.
The agreement is part of efforts to dismantle smuggling networks responsible for irregular migration, which has seen nearly 34,000 undocumented migrants cross the English Channel to the UK this year.
At least 70 people have died attempting the dangerous journey, making 2024 the deadliest year on record for such crossings.
Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the focus is on ending the operations of criminal gangs that exploit vulnerable migrants.
“These organisations put human lives at risk by forcing people onto unsafe boats under threats of violence. This joint plan will help us counter this unscrupulous business more effectively,” Faeser said.
The action plan includes measures to improve intelligence sharing, disrupt financial flows, and facilitate prosecutions of smugglers.
Germany also pledged to amend its laws to criminalize the smuggling of migrants to the UK, enabling stronger legal action against perpetrators.
The UK’s Border Security Commander, Martin Hewitt, appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in September, reiterated the government’s commitment to combating smuggling networks.
Starmer has described the issue as a “global security threat” and emphasized the need for international cooperation.
The London meeting is part of the Calais Group’s ongoing efforts to address irregular migration in Europe, focusing on breaking the business models of smuggling networks.
Further agreements are expected as the crisis continues to dominate political agendas across the continent.