Italy, Spain, Greece and others warn that the proposed bilateral deal could shift the asylum burden onto them, bypassing broader EU-UK talks.
A group of southern European Union countries, including Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus, have strongly opposed the proposed Franco-British migration deal. They have warned that it could have unintended consequences for other EU member states already struggling with migration pressures, the Financial Times reported.
In a joint letter to the European Commission last week — seen by the Financial Times — the five countries criticised France for unilaterally negotiating the deal with Britain, outside the EU’s normal migration policy. The plan, currently under negotiation, would see the UK return illegal immigrants to France, as well as accept some refugees under legal resettlement.
Concerns over procedural bypass
“We note — with some surprise — France’s intention to sign a bilateral readmission agreement,” the five countries said jointly. They said the move, in addition to being procedural, raised “serious concerns” about the impact on countries of first entry. The Mediterranean is often the first point of entry for people arriving in Europe from Africa and the Middle East.
There are concerns that, once asylum seekers from the UK are returned to France, France could use existing European Union (EU) rules to return those migrants to the EU countries they first entered — possibly one of these five countries. This could potentially put the burden of migration back on southern Europe without any consultation or support.
UK moves towards bilateral agreements amid EU divisions
The United Kingdom (UK) government, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, is focusing on reaching bilateral migration deals with European countries after leaving the European Union (EU). In May, a broad “reset deal” was signed to strengthen cooperation between the UK and the EU. However, due to internal EU disagreements and Britain’s demands for simpler deals, the issue of illegal immigration has lost its priority.
Progress on the deal with France is continuing slowly, a British official said. “Overcoming the final hurdles is taking longer than expected,” he said. “Some EU countries are being more proactive than others,” he added. French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit London on July 8, which could help finalise the deal.
The proposed France-UK migration deal is similar to the controversial 2016 EU-Turkey deal. Under the deal, Turkey took in refugees sent back from the EU to help prevent illegal migrants from entering Greece. In return, Turkey was initially given €6 billion in financial aid, which was later increased to €12 billion.
Brussels seeks clarification
The European Commission has officially confirmed that it has received the letter from the southern countries. “We are in contact with the French and UK authorities to ensure that the necessary clarifications are provided,” a commission spokesman said. They added that the commission is committed to defending solutions that are in line with EU law and principles.
“The European Union is firmly committed to ensuring that there are no gaps in the negotiations with the UK,” an EU official said. He made it clear that the issue of migration should be discussed within the common UK-EU framework, not outside it.
The European Commission said that the increase in people smuggling across the English Channel was also a “worrying development” that required a “strong response.” In the year ending in March, nearly 38,000 people crossed the Channel to the UK in small boats, according to reports.
Diplomatic tension
A letter from five Mediterranean countries highlights growing divisions within the European Union (EU) over the management of migration. These differences could lead to further tensions as member states come under varying levels of political pressure and nationalism over migration. The letter highlights the confusion in UK-EU relations after Brexit, particularly on sensitive issues such as border controls and asylum policies.
While the UK continues to negotiate separate bilateral migration agreements with EU capitals, southern European countries — particularly those facing the most pressure — are calling for a coordinated and transparent approach to the issue. Whether France will be a party to the agreement, and whether the EU will formally intervene, have become key issues in shaping the direction of cross-Channel migration policy.