France and Britain are negotiating the withdrawal of their “one in, one out” migration agreement, a scheme introduced last year to address irregular crossings of the English Channel.
A French interior ministry source said discussions were underway with British authorities over the terms for ending the arrangement. The agreement allowed Britain to return undocumented migrants who arrived by small boats to France, while France accepted an equivalent number of asylum seekers with family connections in Britain.
Under the deal, Britain was required to return an individual within 14 days of arrival, while France had a target of completing transfers within three months. The arrangement excluded unaccompanied minors and people considered a pre-existing security threat.
The agreement was due to expire on October 1 after being extended from an earlier deadline. More than 1,400 people had been returned to France under the scheme, while a similar number of asylum seekers with links to Britain were transferred in the opposite direction.
The French government has not publicly explained why it is seeking to end the arrangement, while the British government has not immediately commented on the negotiations.
The talks come as both countries continue to face pressure over irregular migration and the movement of people across the English Channel
Leave a comment