Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002753/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nikolaos Anadiotis (NI)
According to reports in the international press, France and the United Kingdom are negotiating a ‘one in, one out’ deal, meaning that for each irregular migrant returned to France from the Channel, an asylum seeker from France will be accepted for family reunification in the UK[1]. The five countries of first entry (Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Malta) have expressed their opposition, noting that this agreement could circumvent European law and place a strain on the southern states.
The planned approach appears to be at odds with the principles of the new regulation on asylum management (Regulation (EU) 2024/1358) and Article 78 TFEU on a common European asylum system.
In view of the above, can the Commission answer the following:
- 1.What is its legal assessment of the UK-France agreement under negotiation, in relation to EU asylum law?
- 2.What measures will it take to ensure that countries of first entry, such as Greece, are not placed under additional strain?
- 3.Does it intend to call for transparency or approval for such bilateral agreements when they affect the very heart of European immigration policy?
Submitted: 7.7.2025
- [1] https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/uk-and-france-discuss-one-in-one-out-migrant-returns-wjlgr66ms