The United Kingdom and Belgium are looking to deepen their partnership to combat human smuggling along the Channel’s western coastline, where attempts by migrants to cross in small
boats have surged in recent months.
Authorities say police and border services are now intercepting smugglers and migrants attempting the dangerous journey almost every day along the coast.
On Thursday, Belgium’s Interior Minister Bernard Quintin visited an ongoing police operation in the coastal village of Adinkerke, near De Panne. He was joined by the UK’s Migration Minister Alex Norris. The visit highlighted the growing concern in both countries about the rise in illegal crossings and the role of smuggling networks operating in the region.
Quintin said both governments want to strengthen intelligence-sharing and operational cooperation to disrupt the criminal groups organizing the crossings.
“Cooperation with our British partners is already strong, but we want to improve the exchange of information even further,” Quintin said. He noted that the UK’s departure from the European Union has complicated some aspects of data sharing. “Since Brexit, exchanging information has become more difficult. We need a proper legal framework to ensure the process runs smoothly.”
Boosting police coordination
Beyond intelligence sharing, Belgian authorities are also examining ways to expand joint police operations with their British counterparts.
According to Quintin, the UK already provides personnel and resources to assist Belgian authorities in the region, but officials are exploring additional ways to strengthen that support.
“It’s vital that we act quickly,” he said. “We’re seeing this phenomenon appear more often in our country, and early intervention can prevent the situation from escalating.”
Norris echoed that message, stressing that Belgium plays a crucial role in tackling irregular migration routes across the Channel.
“Belgium is a key ally in the fight against illegal migration,” he said. “We already have strong cooperation and we want to keep working closely together to bring the situation under control.”
Local authorities welcome political focus
Regional leaders say the renewed attention from national governments is a positive sign.
Carl Decaluwé, governor of West Flanders, has long called for additional resources to deal with the growing pressure on local police forces.
“It’s encouraging to see this issue high on the political agenda,” Decaluwé said. “The pressure on this region and on our police services is significant.”
He added that federal authorities have already provided extra support and expressed hope that cooperation between Belgium, the UK and local authorities will become more permanent and structured in the future.
As migrant crossings continue to rise, both countries say stronger coordination will be essential to dismantle smuggling networks and prevent further dangerous journeys across the Channel. Photo by Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024 from Belgium, Wikimedia commons.