New EU anti-migrant deal will help Rishi Sunak 'stop the boats', says French politician

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The European Union has reached a groundbreaking deal to change the way it treats asylum seekers after years of political impasse – which could help the EU's flagship mission Rishi Sunak to “stop the boats”. Although Brexit means the UK is not involved in the deal, a French MEP at the heart of the negotiations suggested on Wednesday that this would prevent asylum seekers from arriving in Calais and attempting to undertake the perilous journey across the Channel.

The political deal, reached after all-night negotiations in Brussels, would see each EU member state allocated a share of the 30,000 people the bloc is expected to welcome by year, or help his peer hosts by providing money, materials or personnel.

Rishi Sunak has made his commitment to “stop the boats” one of its five priorities for 2023 < /p> (James Manning/PA)

This would also aim to see people deemed unlikely to be granted asylum placed in “waiting areas” while their applications are processed within a maximum of 12 weeks – and then deported. to their country of origin within an additional three months if their applications are rejected.

EU countries could also apply the fast-track procedure to people recovered at sea, captured while trying to cross their borders without documents, or seek asylum at a country's border rather than in advance.

Amnesty International has warned that these plans – which are expected to come into force next year next – “will lead to an increase in the suffering of asylum seekers, refugees and refugees”. migrants at every stage of their journey."

French MEP Fabienne Keller, of the Renew Europe group, who led the negotiations, insisted that the Geneva Convention will be "fully implemented" in waiting areas, adding: "If I can make a comparison,