Southern EU unhappy with France-UK migrant swap talks
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Several EU countries have expressed concern regarding a potential France-UK immigrant relocation deal which could see other EU countries having to host relocated migrants.
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Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, and President of France Emmanuel Macron attend a bilateral meeting at the G7 summit, in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)
Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta, and Cyprus have objected to France's negotiations with the UK over a migrant exchange agreement, according to a letter sent by the five nations to the EU Commission, as reported by the Financial Times on Friday.
In April, the Financial Times reported that the UK and France were in talks over a potential migrant exchange deal, which would allow the UK to deport undocumented migrants who had crossed the English Channel back to France while in return, London would accept migrants from France who qualify for entry under the UK's family reunification scheme.
"We take note, with a degree of surprise, of the reported intention of France to sign a bilateral readmission arrangement ... If confirmed, such an initiative raises serious concerns for us, both procedurally and in terms of potential implications for other member states, particularly those of first entry," the letter states. These nations fear they may bear the burden of accommodating migrants rejected by the UK.
Undocumented migrants frequently resort to any available methods to enter the UK and secure refugee status, which grants them access to financial support and social welfare programs.
The number of arrivals hit a record high in 2022 with more than 45,000 migrants reaching British shores, followed by over 36,000 in 2024, placing a significant financial strain on the UK government as it spends millions of pounds each day to accommodate refugees in hotel accommodations.
Recent reports said that the United Kingdom has started to reject Ukrainians who are fleeing the war and seeking asylum in the UK.
UK rejects asylum for Ukrainians citing safe return zones
On June 27, The Guardian reported that Ukrainian refugees in the UK are being denied asylum by the Home Office, as British immigration authorities increasingly determine that certain regions of Ukraine are now safe for their return.
Affected families are now pursuing permanent residency options in the UK in an effort to establish stability for their children's schooling, future job prospects, and long-term housing security. Numerous refugees argue that returning home remains impossible, as their hometowns, destroyed by conflict, now lack basic infrastructure, essential services, and habitable conditions.
A Ukrainian asylum seeker revealed to The Guardian that their application was denied after UK authorities asserted they could internally relocate within Ukraine, despite their hometown remaining under active bombardment and their region being classified as a conflict zone.
The London immigration firm Sterling Law reports weekly inquiries from Ukrainian nationals, primarily women and children, whose asylum applications were denied, with the firm now handling multiple appeals despite legal experts cautioning that such cases typically drag on for months, exacerbating applicants' uncertainty and mental anguish.
