The ongoing reconciliation between London and Brussels is progressing. Recently, an agreement between the UK and Frontex, the EU’s border agency, was formally signed by officials from both sides. While not a comprehensive deal on migration cooperation, it can still be presented as such.
As per the agreement, the UK and Frontex will collaborate on intelligence sharing, joint training of officials, and deployment of liaison staff for coordination purposes.
The UK Home Office described the pact as providing the foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation. Practical examples of this cooperation could involve analyzing migratory patterns in Europe and combatting document fraud.
Both the UK and the EU have emphasized the importance of this agreement. UK Home Secretary James Cleverly hailed it as a crucial step in border security, while EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson emphasized the need for efficient border management in line with international standards and EU values.
This agreement follows a similar border control arrangement with France in March 2023, and the UK is also nearing a law enforcement and police cooperation pact with Belgium.
However, the agreement with Frontex only covers basic cooperation and does not include a bilateral returns agreement, meaning the UK will not be obligated to accept asylum seekers from EU countries. Despite differences, both sides have similar approaches to migration control.
Two sides of the same coin?
There are parallels between the EU’s ‘Rwanda’ clause and the UK’s approach to treating Rwanda as a safe country for asylum seekers, despite legal challenges. With relations improving post-Brexit, the UK has joined EU research programs and signed agreements with the EU on migration.
As the UK approaches an election, the future of UK-EU relations under a potential Labour government remains uncertain. While there is desire for closer ties, the cautious approach of both UK and EU officials suggests that incremental steps, like the UK-Frontex deal, will be prioritized in the near future.
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Expectations of a Labour government reversing euroscepticism in the UK may not materialize, as the party is hesitant to reopen discussions on EU membership. Instead, focus remains on practical cooperation in areas like foreign policy and defense.
Both the UK and the EU are approaching the end-2025 review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement cautiously, focusing on technical requirements rather than major renegotiations. For now, incremental progress on agreements like the UK-Frontex deal is likely to be the main focus for the foreseeable future.
