The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak’s administration, is set to unveil an impending agreement for collaboration with the European Union’s border protection agency, Frontex, indicating a thaw in post-Brexit relations.
According to Sunak’s spokesperson on Monday, the forthcoming agreement will involve the sharing of intelligence on criminal networks engaged in unlawful migration and joint efforts to deploy technologies aimed at curbing human trafficking.
In a statement, Sunak’s spokesperson remarked, “Frontex possesses unparalleled insights into illegal migration and transnational crime across Europe, hence it is imperative that we engage in discussions to establish these operational arrangements, which will furnish us with novel avenues to combat illegal migration.”
Following a discussion between Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, Downing Street disclosed that the agreement is expected to be formalised in the coming days.
Sunak has prioritised halting the influx of small boats carrying asylum seekers from France as one of his government’s top five objectives.
He anticipates that a decline in arrivals could bolster his Conservative Party’s chances, which are currently trailing in opinion polls, in the upcoming general election later this year.
While Britain has secured bilateral agreements, including a recent pact with Turkey to disrupt human-smuggling networks and address illegal migration, it no longer maintains return agreements with the EU following its departure from the bloc.