Commission strengthens migration management along the Channel route

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

Today, the Commission is presenting an EU action plan for the Channel migratory route, setting out a comprehensive European response to the challenges posed by illegal migration along this route.

The action plan puts forward operational measures starting in countries of origin and transit and extending along the whole route. These include dismantling migrant smuggling and trafficking networks, strengthening the protection of the external borders, and stepping up returns. Illegal migration along the Channel route poses a distinct challenge that causes loss of life at sea and generates significant demands on border control, public order and reception capacities in the most directly affected Member States. It fuels unauthorised movements across the EU and Schengen area and entrenches organised criminal networks facilitating migrant smuggling.

The EU already stepped-up action to manage migration more effectively, leading to an overall decline of illegal border crossings at the EU’s external borders (-55% since 2024). Illegal border crossings on exit along the Channel route also declined (-44% so far in 2026), although they remain high, with nearly 64,000 attempted crossings in the Channel in 2025. 

To address these challenges, the action plan focuses on three main priority areas, to be tackled with support from EU agencies and in cooperation with the UK: reinforcing migration diplomacy along the route, disrupting smuggling networks and their criminal infrastructure, and strengthening border management.

The United Kingdom is a key partner in delivering the full potential of this action plan. Given the shared nature of the challenge and building on the steps already taken by the United Kingdom, further actions by the United Kingdom will be essential across all strands of the action plan to strengthen border security, counter migrant smuggling and reduce incentives for illegal migration.

Reinforcing migration diplomacy along the route

Curbing illegal crossings requires sustained and coordinated engagement along the routes used by migrants seeking to cross the Channel. For this, the EU will step up its migration diplomacy, strengthening cooperation with countries of origin and transit, as well as with international organisations.

This includes reinforcing efforts in a whole-of-route approach, coordinating and promoting EU and UK information campaigns for migrants in origin and transit countries, as well as stepping up cooperation on returns and readmission to prevent people from undertaking dangerous journeys and sustain the reduction in illegal arrivals.

Disrupting smuggling networks and their criminal infrastructure

Building on the ongoing cooperation in the context of the Global Alliance to counter migrant smuggling, the action plan calls for enhanced joint operational cooperation in the framework EU’s European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) and for strengthened cooperation between Member States, Europol, Frontex, Eurojust and international partners.

Member States will also work on a mapping of smuggling networks along the Channel, with support from Europol’s Centre Against Migrant Smuggling.

Additional measures will be considered to disrupt logistical supply chains for small boats and to tackle the online dimension of migrant smuggling, together with the EU Internet Forum and online service providers.

Strengthening border management

The action plan will strengthen operational capacity at the borders between the UK and the most exposed Member States, in order to improve situational awareness, information sharing and operational cooperation.

This includes reinforcing Europol’s European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling and the UK-French Joint Intelligence Cell in Calais, as well as the deployment of Frontex staff and equipment (such as surveillance assets) along the Channel and North Sea borders.

Background

This action plan builds on the European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy, which called for stronger migration diplomacy and strengthened cooperation with partner countries, as part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to migration management. It also supports the ongoing joint efforts in the context of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling.

For more information

Action plan