Home secretaries from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium convened in London on Tuesday to strengthen their collective fight against criminal networks facilitating illegal immigration in Europe. This meeting of the “Calais Group” aims to disrupt the smuggling gangs’ economic operations and bring those responsible for these dangerous activities to justice, the British Home Office announced.
The group, joined by representatives from the European Commission, Frontex and Europol, outlined a “reinforced action plan” for 2025. Key priorities include targeting illicit financial flows that sustain smuggling networks and enhancing intelligence-sharing to support criminal prosecutions across Europe.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for stronger international collaboration on this issue, describing smuggling networks as “a threat to global security on a par with terrorism.”
The urgency of the initiative is underscored by grim statistics. Nearly 34,000 migrants crossed the Channel in makeshift boats to reach the UK this year, and at least 70 people lost their lives in the attempt, making 2024 the deadliest year on record.
