UK, France seal three-year pact to curb migrant crossings

Britain and France have agreed on a new three-year deal aimed at curbing undocumented migrants from making dangerous crossings of the English Channel, according to a French interior ministry roadmap seen on Wednesday.

Under the agreement, France has committed to boosting coastal law enforcement by more than 50%, with personnel expected to reach 1,400 officers by 2029 to tackle irregular migration towards Britain.

In return, Britain will provide up to €766 million ($897 million) in funding, although nearly a quarter of the amount will be conditional on the effectiveness of French measures.

The two countries have spent months negotiating the renewal of the Sandhurst Treaty, which governs Britain’s financial support for France’s efforts to prevent migrants from attempting the perilous sea journey.

London has long criticised Paris for not doing enough to stop migrants and smugglers from departing French shores, an issue that remains politically sensitive in the UK. As a result, Britain insisted on attaching conditions to how its funds are used before agreeing to renew the deal.

According to the roadmap, if the new measures fail to deliver “sufficient results” based on joint annual reviews, funding could be redirected to alternative strategies.

France also plans to deploy drones, helicopters and enhanced digital surveillance to better prevent crossings, particularly targeting so-called “taxi boats” used by smugglers.

However, under international maritime law, once vessels leave shore, authorities can generally only intervene in cases of distress to prevent loss of life.

Official British data shows that 41,472 people reached the UK via small boats in 2025, the second-highest annual total since such crossings began rising in 2018. At least 29 migrants died attempting the journey last year, according to figures compiled from French and British sources.