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The UK government has announced that it will be signing new agreements with western Balkan countries to combat people-smuggling gangs and reduce small boat crossings. The deals with Serbia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo are focused on increasing intelligence sharing and cooperation to intercept and arrest smuggling gangs, with the aim of breaking their business models. Last year, there were almost 100,000 migrants passing through the western Balkans, making the region a key route used by those trying to enter the European Union or the UK illegally.
At the annual European Political Community (EPC) summit in Budapest, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will reveal the new plans, which include chairing a meeting on migration with European leaders. Starmer will call for more action to reduce the number of deaths resulting from illegal Channel crossings, which have exceeded last year’s rate. The agreements follow a similar blueprint to deals already established with Turkey and Albania to share intelligence and disrupt people-smuggling gangs.
Sir Keir stated that the criminal activity and enterprise involved in organised immigration crime was a horrendous human cost and a threat to national security. Starmer continued to explain that the UK would take part in efforts to end this scourge with international partners and fight these “vile people smuggling networks.” Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, added that working alongside Serbia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo would enable them to share information and cooperate to break the business models of these illegal smuggling gangs at their source.
The UK’s efforts to tackle people smuggling come as it pledged an additional £75 million in funding to Border Security Command. This brings together various agencies such as police, intelligence and immigration enforcement, to specifically tackle small boat crossings and illegal migration. The 2022 EPC brings together European heads of government to improve cooperation and includes 27 members of the EU along with 20 other nations. The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, economic security, and global trade are some of the issues on the EPC agenda alongside illegal migration
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