Britain and France have agreed to a new three-year deal to curb undocumented migration across the English Channel, with both countries committing increased funding, enforcement, and surveillance to halt the dangerous crossings.
Under the agreement, France will boost its coastal law enforcement presence by more than 50 per cent, deploying up to 1,400 officers by 2029 to tackle irregular migration to the UK. In return, Britain will provide up to €766 million ($897 million) in funding, with nearly a quarter of the amount tied to performance-based conditions.
The deal renews commitments under the Sandhurst Treaty, first signed in 2018 and extended in 2023, which outlines the UK’s financial support for French efforts to prevent migrants from setting off across the Channel. The current agreement was due to expire this year.
The UK had previously accused France of not doing enough to stop migrants from departing its shores, as smugglers and asylum seekers adopt increasingly risky methods to evade detection.
London had insisted on stricter conditions for the renewal of the agreement.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said joint efforts between both countries had “already stopped tens of thousands of crossings,” adding that “this historic agreement means we can go further: ramping up intelligence, surveillance and boots on the ground to protect Britain’s borders.”
A French Interior Ministry document on the deal indicated that funding would be subject to annual review, warning that if measures fail to deliver “sufficient results,” resources could be redirected to alternative actions.
Even if the conditional portion is withheld, Britain’s base contribution of €580 million represents a €40 million increase compared to the previous agreement.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez and UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood are expected to unveil further details of the plan during a joint visit to Loon-Plage near Dunkirk, where a proposed accommodation centre for migrants awaiting deportation is to be established.
Mahmood said: “This landmark deal will stop illegal migrants making the perilous journey and put people smugglers behind bars.”
The agreement comes at a politically sensitive time for Starmer, who faces pressure to reduce migration levels ahead of local elections. His government is also dealing with political fallout over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States.
In addition to increased patrols, France plans to deploy drones, helicopters, and digital surveillance tools along its coastline to prevent crossings. However, under international maritime law, authorities can only intervene at sea in rescue situations once a vessel has departed shore.
According to official UK figures, 41,472 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats in 2025, the second-highest number since crossings surged in 2018.
At least 29 migrants died attempting the journey that year, based on official data.
French authorities say progress is being made, noting that arrivals in the UK have dropped by half in early 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Around 480 people smugglers were also arrested in 2025, according to the French Interior Ministry.
