EU Channel patrols are being strengthened with Spanish and Lithuanian vessels joining French operations to support migrant search and rescue efforts.
PARIS: The European Union is sending patrol boats to the English Channel and North Sea as authorities strengthen efforts to respond to dangerous migrant crossings between France and Britain.
The EU Channel patrols will be supported by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, with two Spanish vessels operating during September and October. A Lithuanian vessel is then expected to continue the deployment until January.
The vessels will temporarily complement French resources involved in search and rescue operations, according to authorities responsible for managing the Channel and North Sea.
The move comes after French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham discussed small boat crossings during bilateral talks this week.
The English Channel is one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, but it has also become a dangerous route for migrants attempting to reach Britain from northern France in small boats.
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Strong currents, unpredictable weather and heavy commercial shipping can make the journey particularly hazardous. Smuggling networks have also been accused of putting large numbers of people aboard unsuitable and overcrowded vessels.
In August, French coastguards rescued 157 people after a boat caught fire during an attempted crossing.
The latest deployment forms part of broader European efforts to address irregular migration and organised smuggling networks operating along the Channel route.
The European Commission unveiled an action plan in June aimed at strengthening migration management along the route. Measures include closer cooperation between European countries, stronger action against smuggling networks and increased operational resources around the Channel and North Sea.
Britain and France have also expanded their cooperation. Britain agreed earlier this year to provide France with up to £660 million under a three-year border security agreement aimed at reducing irregular Channel crossings.
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The two countries previously established a pilot arrangement under which France can accept the return of some undocumented people who reach Britain by small boats, while Britain accepts an equal number of eligible asylum seekers with family connections in the UK.
The EU Channel patrols add another European dimension to those efforts, particularly in supporting maritime operations where lives can be at immediate risk.
Impact to expect
The additional Frontex vessels could increase search and rescue capacity in the English Channel while giving French authorities more resources to respond to boats in distress. The deployment also signals deeper EU involvement in managing a migration route that directly connects continental Europe with Britain.
The EU Channel patrols are expected to continue into January, meaning European maritime support will remain in place through the more challenging autumn and winter conditions.
