Sunak to call for European unity on tackling migration and Russian threat

British Prime Minister set to announce bilateral intelligence and co-operation initiatives with Belgium, Bulgaria and Serbia

UK Prime Minster Rishi Sunak delivers a speech during the Conservative Party conference in Manchester. Bloomberg

European leaders must unite to face down threats from Russia and take action against people smugglers, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to say at the European Political Community summit in Granada, Spain, on Thursday.

Along with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Mr Sunak will co-lead a meeting focused on “illegal migration and organised crime”.

During the summit, Mr Sunak is expected to announce bilateral initiatives with Belgium, Bulgaria and Serbia to increase intelligence sharing and operational co-operation.

This will include working with Belgium to try to disrupt organised immigration crime and clandestine entry to the UK as well as efforts to co-operate further with Serbia on prosecuting and disrupting criminal networks.

Support for Ukraine will also be discussed, including work among European allies to provide weapons to Kyiv and the need for Black Sea grain shipments.

Mr Sunak is expected to confirm allocations of UK humanitarian aid to help Ukrainians over the winter.

Artificial intelligence will also be discussed at the summit, to which a total of 47 heads of state and government have been invited.

“Levels of illegal migration to mainland Europe are the highest they have been in nearly a decade,” Mr Sunak said.

“With thousands of people dying at sea, propelled by people smugglers, the situation is both immoral and unsustainable.

“We cannot allow criminal gangs to decide who comes to Europe’s shores.

“When it comes to facing down the threat from [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, confronting the risks and opportunities of AI or dealing with illegal migration, there is strength in unity.

“These issues transcend national borders and require creative Europe-wide solutions – that is what I will be discussing with my fellow leaders at the European Political Community summit in Spain today.”

100,000 migrants cross the Channel in five years – in pictures

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  It is thought the number of migrants who have arrived in the UK since 2018 by crossing the English Channel on small boats now exceeds 100,000. PA

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  The milestone adds pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to fulfil his pledge to “stop the boats”. PA

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  An aerial view shows rolled-up inflatable dinghies and outboard engines, stored in a Port Authority yard in Dover. AFP

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  A group of people thought to be migrants are driven away from Dover. PA

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  Migrants are being hosted on the Bibby Stockholm, which is being used as an accommodation barge in Dorset. AFP

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  Migrants seeking asylum in the UK have also been housed at Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent. PA

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  A migrant walks back to his makeshift camp at sunrise after a failed attempt to cross the Channel in Sangatte, near Calais. Reuters

Home Office figures show that more than 25,000 people have been detected crossing the English Channel in small boats so far this year.

There were 45,774 arrivals last year.

The total number of small boat arrivals so far this year is about 23 per cent below the equivalent number at this point last year.

A little more than 33,000 people had made the crossing by October 2 of last year, compared with 25,330 detected so far in 2023.

Mr Sunak has made stopping the crossings one of his key pledges for this year, and last month, he held talks with hard-right leader Ms Meloni at the G20 summit.

The pair have become firm allies, uniting over their stance of cutting irregular immigration into their countries.

The UK Parliament passed the Illegal Migration Act earlier this year following a lengthy tussle between the House of Commons and House of Lords.

The legislation aims to prevent people from claiming asylum in the UK if they arrive through unauthorised means.

The government also hopes the changes will ensure detained people are promptly removed, either to their home country or a third country such as Rwanda.

The government’s legal battle over its Rwanda deportation policy is set to be heard at the Supreme Court in October.

The Home Office is bringing a challenge after the Court of Appeal ruled in June that the multimillion-pound deal – which would see asylum seekers deported to the East African nation – was unlawful.