LONDON, Aug 5 (KUNA) -- UK-France treaty targeting illegal crossings comes into force Tuesday.
The treaty provides a legal basis for the groundbreaking UK-France 'one-in, one-out' pilot scheme.
The UK Home Office statement said the agreement meant that anyone entering the UK on a small boat can be detained immediately on arrival and returned to France by the UK government -- with detentions expected to begin within days.
Under the "one-in, one-out" scheme, an equal number of migrants will be eligible to come to the UK through a new route if they have not attempted an illegal crossing before -- subject to full documentation and security and eligibility checks.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, "This government has been fixing the foundations of the broken asylum system we inherited and today we send a clear message -- if you come here illegally on a small boat you will face being sent back to France." "This is the product of months of grown-up diplomacy delivering real results for British people as we broker deals no government has been able to achieve and strike at the heart of these vile gangs' business model." Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said, "For the first time, under this groundbreaking new treaty, people who undertake illegal, dangerous journeys to the UK -- putting lives at risk and fueling organized crime -- can be returned to France. In return, we will take people who apply legally with appropriate documentation to be transferred to the UK, subject to clear eligibility criteria and stringent security checks." "This is an important step towards undermining the business model of the organized crime gangs that are behind these crossings -- undermining their claims that those who travel to the UK illegally can't be returned to France. Now, as part of our Plan for Change, they can be." "It is also right to make clear that -- while the UK will always be ready to play its part alongside other countries in helping those fleeing persecution and conflict -- this must be done in a controlled and managed legal way, not through dangerous, illegal and uncontrolled routes." "We will develop the pilot step by step and will trial different approaches as part of it, and alongside this scheme, we will continue to take action at every level to dismantle the criminal enterprise behind this vile trade, boosted by the آ£100 million in new investment announced this week to support increased enforcement against the gangs." The treaty governing the pilot scheme will remain in force until June 2026. (end) nbs.gta