Briefing - Migrant smuggling across the English Channel: A moving target - 26-06-2026
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Migrant smugglers play a pivotal role in irregular border crossings into the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK). The UK has experienced a significant rise in small boat crossings across the English Channel since 2020, prompting the British governBriefing - Migrant smuggling across the English Channel: A moving target - 26-06-2026
Migrant smugglers play a pivotal role in irregular border crossings into the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK). The UK has experienced a significant rise in small boat crossings across the English Channel since 2020, prompting the British government to develop measures to address this new form of irregular migration. However, the UK's withdrawal from the EU (Brexit) in 2020 has complicated efforts to manage these crossings. The UK no longer has access to EU migration and asylum databases nor can it return asylum seekers to other EU countries without mutual agreement. While the EU has seen a decline in asylum applications between 2023 and 2025, the UK has not experienced a comparable decrease. The increase in small boat arrivals is attributed to several factors, including Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, heightened border controls, and the commercialisation of the small boat route. These crossings have become the primary recorded method of irregular entry since 2020, accounting for 89 % of detected arrivals by 2025. This has sparked intense public and political debate and prompted calls for stricter measures. The UK government has introduced various measures to combat migrant smuggling, ranging from closer cooperation with some of the most affected EU countries, in particular France and Belgium, to funding for enhanced border controls and law enforcement cooperation. It has also launched initiatives such as the controversial Rwanda scheme. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains questionable, with critics arguing that they do not address the root causes of migration and may even exacerbate the risks for migrants. The situation highlights the complex challenges of managing irregular migration in the post-Brexit era while seeking comprehensive and humane solutions that address both the immediate and underlying causes, including through access to more legal pathways into the EU and the UK. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP Read more












