Headlines

UK and France reach agreement on pilot migrant returns programme

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on July 10, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
UK and France reach agreement on pilot migrant returns programme
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain on Thursday reached an agreement with France on a pilot programme to return migrants arriving in small boats, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. "Migrants arriving via

UK and France Strike Deal on Migrant Return Program for Small Boats

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain on Thursday reached an agreement with France on a pilot programme to return migrants arriving in small boats, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

"Migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order," Starmer said at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Starmer said that for every migrant returned, a different individual would be allowed "to come here via a safe route: controlled and legal, subject to strict security checks and only open to those who have not tried to enter the UK illegally."

(Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau and Sachin Ravikumar, writing by Sam Tabahriti; editing by William James)

Key Takeaways

  • UK and France have reached an agreement on a migrant return program.
  • The program targets migrants arriving in small boats.
  • Returned migrants will be replaced by individuals using safe routes.
  • The agreement includes strict security checks.
  • The program aims to control illegal immigration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the new migrant return program?
The program aims to return migrants arriving in small boats back to France quickly. This initiative is part of an agreement reached between the UK and France.
Who announced the agreement on the migrant return program?
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the agreement during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.
What will happen to migrants returned to France?
For every migrant returned, a different individual will be allowed to enter the UK through a safe route, which is controlled and legal, subject to strict security checks.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Headlines

Explore more articles in the Headlines category