UK, Germany Sign Pact Against Migrant Smuggling

The UK and Germany have signed a new agreement to combat migrant smuggling, focusing on illegal transportation across the English Channel. This bilateral action, co-chaired by UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, involves Germany criminalizing the facilitation of migrant smuggling towards the UK. The agreement is part of the broader Calais Group meeting, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and EU agencies, emphasizing intelligence sharing and operational cooperation. In addition to legislative changes, countries will work to remove smuggling-related content from social media platforms. The initiative aims to address the high number of dangerous Channel crossings, which have resulted in over 70 deaths this year. This marks a significant step in strengthening border security cooperation post-Brexit.