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| Rishi Sunak prioritises illegal migration in European talks | Rishi Sunak prioritises illegal migration in European talks |
| (7 months later) | |
| Moldova's President Maia Sandu hosted the summit | Moldova's President Maia Sandu hosted the summit |
| Rishi Sunak has said he made cooperation on combating illegal migration a priority at a meeting of European leaders in Moldova. | Rishi Sunak has said he made cooperation on combating illegal migration a priority at a meeting of European leaders in Moldova. |
| The prime minister said he was "putting tackling illegal migration top of the international agenda", and the UK was "taking the lead". | The prime minister said he was "putting tackling illegal migration top of the international agenda", and the UK was "taking the lead". |
| The main focus of the European Political Community (EPC) summit was the Ukraine war. | The main focus of the European Political Community (EPC) summit was the Ukraine war. |
| But Mr Sunak was keen to show progress on one of his five domestic promises. | But Mr Sunak was keen to show progress on one of his five domestic promises. |
| Before he arrived for the talks at a castle near the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, he warned that Europe was "facing unprecedented threats at our border". | Before he arrived for the talks at a castle near the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, he warned that Europe was "facing unprecedented threats at our border". |
| The UK is beginning talks with Moldova, which has a population of 2.6 million, on an agreement to return migrants who arrive in the UK illegally. | The UK is beginning talks with Moldova, which has a population of 2.6 million, on an agreement to return migrants who arrive in the UK illegally. |
| 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. |
| How is the UK stopping Channel crossings? | How is the UK stopping Channel crossings? |
| How many people cross the Channel in small boats? | How many people cross the Channel in small boats? |
| A similar deal struck with Georgia has now come into force. | A similar deal struck with Georgia has now 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. | Around 300 Georgians arrived in the UK on small boats in 2022, and 31 in the first three months of this year. |
| 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. | 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 was also at the summit, which was held less than 15 miles from his country's border. | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also at the summit, which was held less than 15 miles from his country's border. |
| President Zelenksy, who called for Nato to give a clear commitment that Ukraine could join the Western defensive alliance, had talks with Mr Sunak. | President Zelenksy, who called for Nato to give a clear commitment that Ukraine could join the Western defensive alliance, had talks with Mr Sunak. |
| Rishi Sunak met Ukraine's President Zelensky at the summit | Rishi Sunak met Ukraine's President Zelensky at the summit |
| Speaking at the summit, the prime minister agreed that Ukraine's "rightful place" was in Nato, but gave no detail on a path to membership. | Speaking at the summit, the prime minister agreed that Ukraine's "rightful place" was in Nato, but gave no detail on a path to membership. |
| He said the UK was working with its allies to ensure Ukraine had the "combat air capability needed to repel ongoing Russian aggression". | He said the UK was working with its allies to ensure Ukraine had the "combat air capability needed to repel ongoing Russian aggression". |
| The first EPC meeting, in Prague last October, was attended by then-prime minister Liz Truss. The UK is due to host a summit next year. | The first EPC meeting, in Prague last October, was attended by then-prime minister Liz Truss. The UK is due to host a summit next year. |
| Tweeting from Moldova, Mr Sunak said: "We've already made migration agreements with Albania, France and the EU to stop the boats. | Tweeting from Moldova, Mr Sunak said: "We've already made migration agreements with Albania, France and the EU to stop the boats. |
| "This global issue requires collaboration and the UK is taking the lead." | "This global issue requires collaboration and the UK is taking the lead." |
| 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. |
| Leaders of 47 European nations attended the summit | Leaders of 47 European nations attended the summit |
| Earlier, 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. | Earlier, 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. |
| "In every meeting, every summit, every international gathering like this, the security of our borders must be top of the agenda. | "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. | In March, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced £10m funding for Moldova's energy sector, as well as economic and governance reforms. |
| Mr Macron has said the new club of nations offers "a platform for political coordination" for countries inside and outside the EU. | Mr Macron has said the new club of nations offers "a platform for political coordination" 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 |
| War in Ukraine | |
| UK immigration | UK immigration |
| Rishi Sunak | Rishi Sunak |
| Moldova | Moldova |