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Downing Street has announced that Germany intends to strengthen its legal framework by the end of this year to combat networks smuggling migrants into the UK.
The announcement coincides with a new comprehensive agreement between the UK and Germany, encompassing migration, business, and defense, set to be formalized during Friedrich Merz’s inaugural official visit to the UK as German chancellor on Thursday.
The forthcoming legislative changes in Germany will specifically criminalize the facilitation of illegal migration to the UK.
Currently, facilitating people-smuggling to countries outside the European Union – which, post-Brexit, includes the UK – is not technically illegal under German law.
Downing Street officials stated that this amendment will empower German authorities to more effectively investigate and take action against warehouses and storage facilities utilized by smugglers to conceal small boats destined for illegal Channel crossings to the UK.
Germany initially agreed to reinforce its legislation in December under the previous administration, but the current chancellor is now expected to solidify the commitment to legal changes by year’s end.
A BBC investigation last year highlighted Germany’s significant role in small boat crossings, revealing the country as a key hub for the storage of boats and engines.
Sir Keir Starmer commented, “Chancellor Merz’s pledge to enact the necessary legal changes in Germany to disrupt the supply chains of the dangerous vessels used to transport illegal migrants across the Channel is greatly appreciated.”
This German agreement follows the recent announcement of a new pilot returns scheme with France, made during President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the UK.
The “one in, one out” agreement proposes that for every small boat arrival returned to France, the UK will accept a corresponding number of asylum seekers with ties to the UK.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to address the number of individuals crossing the English Channel in small boats.
To date, more than 21,000 individuals have undertaken this perilous journey this year, marking a 56% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Chris Philp, the Conservatives’ shadow home secretary, asserted that these figures demonstrate “the crisis in the Channel continues to spiral.”
He added, “This is merely a continuation of Keir Starmer’s tired, headline-grabbing tactics.”
“He is scrambling for relevance with yet another gimmick, but this latest press release is not a plan but a distraction…”
“This government has clearly lost control of our borders and left the country exposed when they cancelled our returns deterrent.”
Defence and security issues are also on the agenda for the visit, with discussions planned regarding support for Ukraine.
The leaders are expected to unveil a new agreement aimed at boosting UK defence exports, such as Boxer armoured vehicles and Typhoon jets, through collaborative export campaigns for jointly produced equipment.
Downing Street anticipates that this agreement will likely generate billions of pounds in additional defence exports in the coming years, thereby stimulating the economy and creating jobs.
A cooperation treaty will also establish a new UK-Germany Business Forum designed to facilitate investment between the two nations.
Concurrent with the visit, a series of commercial investments in the UK, totaling over £200 million and creating more than 600 new jobs, are being announced.
Among the participating companies is defence tech firm STARK, which will establish a new facility in Swindon, creating 100 jobs and marking the company’s first expansion outside of Germany.
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