Calls for UK to join EU migration pact amid rising small boat crossings
Andy Burnham has been urged to take the UK into the EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact to help tackle small boat arrivals, reports BritPanorama.
The proposal from the Liberal Democrats would allow the UK to legally return migrants to the first EU country they entered and grant Britain access to the bloc’s biometric database. This move has gained momentum as small boat crossings increase.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey criticized Brexit, stating it has complicated cross-Channel checks due to the Home Office’s loss of access to EU-wide data sets containing vital information on individuals whose asylum applications have been denied elsewhere.
“Farage and the Conservatives should hang their heads in shame for breaking our borders with their bad Brexit deal,” Sir Ed remarked. He added, “We have a plan that would finally end the small boats crisis: a pact with every EU country that will allow us to return people who come over the Channel, taking away the major pull factor that Farage and co created and destroying the business model of the criminal gangs.”
The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, active since June 12, aims to enhance the efficiency and stability of the asylum system. It introduces a duty for asylum seekers to apply in the first country they enter and implements new screening and registration rules, an expanded biometric data-tracking system, and expedited procedures for those from nations with a low asylum grant likelihood.
Joe Meighan, a policy adviser at campaign group European Movement, expressed concern that Brexit has not led to the desired control over illegal migration. He highlighted the ongoing crisis in the Channel as “shameful,” calling for serious cross-border cooperation to tackle organized crime and enhance security across Europe.
“Britain’s security is inseparable from Europe’s security,” Meighan added, asserting that the UK should strengthen its relationship with its European partners to address common challenges effectively.
Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, which advocates for UK-EU reintegration, echoed this sentiment, stating: “The Lib Dems have the right diagnosis but only half the cure: Britain cannot patch up Brexit one painstakingly slow and expensive deal at a time.” She emphasized that joining the EU would significantly boost the UK’s economy and provide comprehensive access to EU systems.
As discussions continue regarding the UK’s immigration policy and its role in Europe, the complexities of the situation remain apparent. The ongoing discourse reflects an essential questioning of the broader implications of Brexit on both migration and international cooperation.
