France's National Rally and Reform UK agree pact on migrant crossings

Jordan Bardella, president of France's far-right National Rally party, announced a pact with Britain's Reform UK party to prevent migrants from reaching the United Kingdom if elected in 2027. Bardella pledged to tighten border controls, facilitate the return of migrants to their countries of origin, and stop small boats from departing French coasts for England. The proposals include rewriting French border policy to allow Britain to 'push back' small boats crossing the English Channel and supporting existing Franco-British patrols. Bardella criticized the current 'one-in-one-out' policy as a 'smokescreen.'

In response, French Europe Minister Benjamin Haddad, a supporter of President Emmanuel Macron, called the National Rally's migration stance a 'big fraud.' Haddad accused the party of opposing EU efforts to control migration until it became politically advantageous, citing their past opposition to the EU's Returns Regulation before ultimately voting in favor of it in the European Parliament. Haddad also noted France's skepticism of 'return hubs' outside the EU for deporting migrants, preferring to select asylum seekers at the EU's external borders.