Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced an £84 million investment in initiatives across Africa and the Middle East aimed at addressing the root causes of illegal migration. This funding will support education, job creation, and humanitarian aid, helping to mitigate the factors that compel individuals to leave their homes.
During the fourth summit of the European Political Community (EPC) at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, Sir Keir, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, acknowledged the complexity of halting small boat crossings in the English Channel, emphasizing the need for “practical solutions” rather than superficial fixes.
The EPC, which comprises the 27 EU member states and 20 non-member nations including the UK, serves as an informal platform for collaboration. The summit’s agenda included discussions on illegal migration and support for Ukraine. Sir Keir expressed his intention to reform the UK’s approach to illegal migration and enhance cooperation with Europe on border security and defense. He emphasized the need to address illegal migration “upstream,” with a consensus emerging on targeting smuggling operations. The UK has also forged new partnerships with Slovenia and Slovakia to combat organized crime.
The Foreign Office announced that the £84 million funding will be disbursed over three years, focusing on programs that assist Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon with education and job opportunities, aid migrants in North and East Africa in addressing local skill shortages, and provide humanitarian assistance to displaced individuals in conflict-stricken Sudan.
Sir Keir has criticized the previous government’s plan to send migrants arriving illegally in the UK to Rwanda, deeming it an “expensive gimmick.” That initiative faced legal hurdles and did not result in any deportations before the general election. Instead, he plans to establish a new Border Security Command, uniting Border Force officials, police, and intelligence agencies, while also utilizing counter-terrorism measures to dismantle human trafficking networks.
He condemned the former government for neglecting its responsibilities regarding migration and for focusing on the Rwanda policy. While acknowledging that reversing the record number of small boat arrivals cannot be achieved immediately, Sir Keir affirmed his commitment to a “serious response.” He also expressed his strong commitment to international law, stating that the UK would not withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, despite hints from the Conservatives regarding this possibility.
The summit, held shortly after the election, allowed Sir Keir to engage with various European leaders, including Italy’s Georgia Meloni and Albania’s Edi Rama. A Downing Street spokesperson indicated that Sir Keir and the Albanian PM discussed “innovative solutions” to migration, including Italy’s plan for processing migrants in Albania. While he did not rule out offshore processing, he emphasized that the primary focus should be on dismantling smuggling operations.
Sir Keir aims to “reset” the UK’s relationship with its European neighbors post-Brexit. While the government does not intend to rejoin the EU, it seeks to establish a security agreement to enhance cooperation in intelligence and policing and to address some of the trade issues arising from the current Brexit arrangements. French President Macron acknowledged the UK’s efforts to improve relations but cautioned that the UK cannot selectively choose aspects of a new deal.
The EPC was established in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which remained a focal point of the discussions. Sir Keir pledged unwavering support for Ukraine “for as long as it takes” and urged European leaders to increase their assistance. NATO’s outgoing Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg remarked that the alliance must prepare for the possibility that the Ukraine conflict may persist for a decade or more, asserting that increased support would expedite an end to the crisis.
The summit occurred against the backdrop of the US presidential campaign, with Republican candidate Donald Trump expressing doubts about continued US funding for Ukraine’s defense. In response to concerns about US political developments, Sir Keir stated that it is up to the American electorate to choose their president, and that the UK will collaborate with whoever is elected, reaffirming the commitment to the special relationship between the UK and the US.
