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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Rishi Sunak prioritises illegal migration in European talks | Rishi Sunak prioritises illegal migration in European talks |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Moldovan President Maia Sandu welcomed Rishi Sunak to the European Political Community summit | Moldovan President Maia Sandu welcomed Rishi Sunak to the European Political Community summit |
| Rishi Sunak is set to use a gathering of European leaders to urge more co-operation between countries to tackle illegal migration. | Rishi Sunak is set to use a gathering of European leaders to urge more co-operation between countries to tackle illegal migration. |
| The main focus of the European Political Community (EPC) summit is likely to be the Ukraine war. | The main focus of the European Political Community (EPC) summit is likely to be the Ukraine war. |
| But the UK prime minister is keen to make progress on one of his own domestic priorities. | But the UK prime minister is keen to make progress on one of his own domestic priorities. |
| He warned that Europe was "facing unprecedented threats at our border," as he arrived in Moldova for the talks. | He warned that Europe was "facing unprecedented threats at our border," as he arrived in Moldova for the talks. |
| It comes as the UK starts talks with the country, which has a population of 2.6m, on an agreement to return migrants arriving illegally. | It comes as the UK starts talks with the country, which has a population of 2.6m, on an agreement to return migrants arriving illegally. |
| A similar deal with struck with Georgia has now entered into force. | A similar deal with struck with Georgia has now entered into force. |
| Truss declares Macron a friend after new summit | Truss declares Macron a friend after new summit |
| Could UK join a new European Political Community? | Could UK join a new European Political Community? |
| The EPC - championed by French President Emmanuel Macron - was formed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. | The EPC - championed by French President Emmanuel Macron - was formed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. |
| It includes 47 European nations - including European Union (EU) member states, the UK, Turkey, Norway and Balkans countries outside the EU. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also there. | |
| Leaders including Rishi Sunak meet for a European Political Community summit near Chisinau, Moldova | |
| The first meeting, in Prague last October, was attended by then-prime minister Liz Truss. The UK is due to host an EPC meeting next year. | |
| While he is there, Mr Sunak is expected to announce the start of negotiations on a new returns agreement with Moldova to allow the UK to return foreign nationals found to be in violation of immigration law. | While he is there, Mr Sunak is expected to announce the start of negotiations on a new returns agreement with Moldova to allow the UK to return foreign nationals found to be in violation of immigration law. |
| However, only three Moldovan nationals arrived in the UK on a small boat last year, according to Home Office statistics. | However, only three Moldovan nationals arrived in the UK on a small boat last year, according to Home Office statistics. |
| A similar agreement with Georgia has come into force. Around 300 Georgians arrived in the UK on small boats in 2022, and 31 in the first three months of this year. | A similar agreement with Georgia has come into force. Around 300 Georgians arrived in the UK on small boats in 2022, and 31 in the first three months of this year. |
| The Times has reported that the UK is keen to increase cooperation with Turkey and Bulgaria as part of efforts to tackle small boats crossing the English Channel. | The Times has reported that the UK is keen to increase cooperation with Turkey and Bulgaria as part of efforts to tackle small boats crossing the English Channel. |
| 'Stop the boats' | 'Stop the boats' |
| Ahead of the meeting at a castle near the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, Mr Sunak said: "Europe is facing unprecedented threats at our borders. From Putin's utter contempt of other countries' sovereignty to the rise in organised immigration crime across our continent. | |
| "We cannot address these problems without Europe's governments and institutions working closely together. In every meeting, every summit, every international gathering like this, the security of our borders must be top of the agenda. | "We cannot address these problems without Europe's governments and institutions working closely together. In every meeting, every summit, every international gathering like this, the security of our borders must be top of the agenda. |
| "The UK will be at the heart of this international effort to stop the boats and defend our national security." | "The UK will be at the heart of this international effort to stop the boats and defend our national security." |
| Moldova, which is wedged between the EU and Ukraine, is a former Soviet state, and, while its government looks West, pro-Russian separatists control its Transnistria region. | Moldova, which is wedged between the EU and Ukraine, is a former Soviet state, and, while its government looks West, pro-Russian separatists control its Transnistria region. |
| It has accepted thousands of Ukrainian refugees, and the EPC has promised it more support. | It has accepted thousands of Ukrainian refugees, and the EPC has promised it more support. |
| In March, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced £10m funding for Moldova's energy sector, as well as economic and governance reforms, including in the energy sector. | In March, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced £10m funding for Moldova's energy sector, as well as economic and governance reforms, including in the energy sector. |
| Mr Macron has said the new club of nations offers "a platform for political co-ordination" for countries inside and outside the EU. | Mr Macron has said the new club of nations offers "a platform for political co-ordination" for countries inside and outside the EU. |
| But the EPC has no institutions or dedicated staff. That has provoked questions about how any decisions would be implemented. | But the EPC has no institutions or dedicated staff. That has provoked questions about how any decisions would be implemented. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Russia-Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war |
| UK immigration | UK immigration |
| Rishi Sunak | Rishi Sunak |
| Moldova | Moldova |