European Union leaders are advocating for new legislation to accelerate the repatriation of asylum seekers within the 27-nation bloc. This comes after a tragic incident where a baby died when a boat carrying asylum seekers to the United Kingdom sank in the English Channel off the coast of France. Authorities have reported that 65 people were rescued and taken to port, with searches ongoing for any missing individuals.
The death toll of migrants attempting to cross the Channel has reached at least 52 this year, the highest since 2018. Government figures show a significant increase in the number of migrants arriving in boats to the UK, with over 26,000 migrants landing on UK shores since January 1.
Both the French and UK governments have been working to prevent the flow of asylum seekers and migrants paying smugglers for passage to the UK on small boats. France’s Prime Minister has vowed to crack down on people traffickers, describing them as exploiting the desperation of undocumented asylum seekers. In the UK, the issue of small boat arrivals was a key focus in July’s general election, with plans to address the influx of boats crossing from France.
At a recent summit in Brussels, EU leaders called for urgent new legislation to facilitate, increase, and expedite returns within the bloc. The statement indicated a need for “determined action at all levels” and proposed potential new ways to prevent and counter irregular migration, potentially including establishing return centers outside the EU. Italy has already opened two such centers in Albania for processing asylum applications.
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