European Commission on Tuesday 16 June presented a comprehensive action plan aimed at curbing illegal migration in the Channel. The document sets out a strategy co-ordinated with the United Kingdom to address a phenomenon that generates “significant demands on border control, public order and reception capacities” in EU Member States, particularly in France and Belgium.
Noting a 44% fall in detections of illegal crossings between January and May 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, the Commission wants to make this trend last.
Migration diplomacy. To this end, it first plans to step up co-operation with the countries of origin and transit of migrants, notably in Asia and Africa, in order to speed up readmission procedures and secure the issuance of travel documents.
This external work will include the launch of joint information campaigns with the United Kingdom to deter would-be exiles from undertaking perilous sea crossings.
Smuggling networks. With the support of Europol, the plan also provides for comprehensive mapping of smuggling networks and the direct targeting of their infrastructure. The focus will be on disrupting supply chains by targeting the supply of inflatable boats, the removal of illegal online content, as well as covert financial flows, such as informal transfer systems (known as “hawala networks”) and cryptocurrencies.
Border management. Lastly, the Commission intends to strengthen technical surveillance on the European coasts of the Channel. The agency Frontex will therefore deploy its standing corps as well as air and maritime surveillance assets to support the Member States affected.
Emphasising that the United Kingdom’s attractiveness is also a catalyst for irregular movements within the Schengen area, the EU is calling on the United Kingdom to become fully involved in this strategy. “Given the shared nature of the challenge and the costs borne at European Union level, the United Kingdom’s financial contribution to joint actions under this Action Plan would meaningfully support our common efforts”, the document states.
The Commission also recalls the human tragedy unfolding on this migration route: according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 121 migrants have died or gone missing in the Channel over the past two years.
Read the action plan: https://aeur.eu/f/mdi (Original version in French by Justine Manaud)