Coast guard overwhelmed: emigration ships in the English Channel dominate use

Coast guard overwhelmed: emigration ships in the English Channel dominate use

Last Saturday morning, the British coast guard was very useful because it had to deal with a variety of migrant boats in the English Channel. This Situation led to delays in saving a sailboat and a kayak driver in need. Around five in the morning, the "Border Force", the "Royal National Lifeboat Institution" (RNLI) and several French ships, reacted to reports of 15 small boats that were traveling from the French coast to Great Britain. Especially the beach of Gravelines between Calais and Dunkirk was the focus of the activities where migrants were observed when climbing inflatable boats.

The British coast guard said that it was not unusual to coordinate several incidents at the same time, and emphasized that public security was not endangered. Ultimately, however, the yacht and kayakers did not need support. Despite an agreement with France, over £ 480 million to doubling the patrolling officials, the severance rate has dropped greatly this year. Only 38 percent of the 8,347 people who dared the dangerous crossing were intercepted while 13,167 came to Great Britain.

decline in migrant translations in the English Channel

Compared to the previous year, the interception rate was 45 percent and in 2023 46 percent. The British government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to significantly reduce immigration in order to avoid "incalculable damage". Planned measures could reduce the annual immigration figures by around 100,000, which could also include stricter language and qualification requirements as well as an extension of the waiting time for citizenship from five to ten years. The deportations for minor crimes are also on the agenda.

In addition to the agreement with France, which also includes the establishment of a common command and a detention center, official figures show that net immigration was 431,000 in the year until December 2024, a decline compared to 860,000 in the previous year. The Ministry of the Interior emphasizes the desire to end dangerous crossings with small boats and improve border security. Despite a "serious plan", the British government sees great challenges due to rising figures and the need to work with France.

refugee crisis in a larger context

In the global context, the topic of migration is not new. At the end of 2023, the number of people on the run worldwide reached a record with 118 million. Over the past ten years there has been an increase in refugee numbers, especially through conflicts such as the war in Ukraine. Germany is behind countries such as Iran, Turkey and Colombia in fourth place in the countries with international refugees.

The EU has tried to control the migrant flows in the past, especially during the 2015/16 refugee crisis, when over a million irregular migrants arrived in southern Europe. Asylum applications in the EU show an increase from 2021, and a high level is also expected for 2024. The complexity of these challenges is illustrated by the reform of the common European asylum system (GEAS), which was decided in April 2024, but is under criticism due to the lack of fair distribution within the EU.

The situation of migrants in the English Channel and the political measures in Great Britain are part of a much larger puzzle that affects European refugee and migration policy. The British coast guard remains challenged in view of the multitude of challenges.