The EU could overhaul refugee laws, prompting the UK to do the same. (Image: Getty)
The UK could “come under pressure” to tighten its immigration laws following the EU’s plan deport failed asylum seekers and criminals.
The bloc is planning to overhaul the 1951 Refugee Convention, which decrees that to their country if their life or freedom could be at threat.
A paper drafted by Poland and seen by The Times said such legal changes “could also stimulate discussion of the issue internationally”, potentially leading to UK backing.
Angela Sharma, specialist immigration barrister at Church Court Chambers, said its successful modification could pave the way for .
She told the Express: “If the EU successfully modifies its interpretation of human rights protections related to deportations, the UK government may come under pressure to either align with EU reforms or introduce stricter immigration laws.”
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The 1951 Refugee Convention is now seen as outdated. (Image: Getty)
In terms of the practicality of this, the Government would need to review the country’s before deporting people.
Sharma explained: “The UK would need to review its policies to facilitate the deportation of asylum seekers previously removed from the EU and establish faster deportation processes.”
The law of failed asylum seekers and migrants involved in crime was discussed by EU interior ministers last week.
The 1951 convention, signed after World War II, represents a “very different geopolitical situation” than that of today, the paper said.
It continued: “Member state societies’ ability to host large numbers of migrants is increasingly being put to the test, especially in situations where some migrants do not seek to integrate into the host society but instead to form separate communities in which norms and rules that deviate from European values may be cultivated.”
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Migration is an extremely contentious issue in both the UK and EU, with the bloc in particular seeing the rise of staunch anti-immigration policies.
In the UK, Sir recently came under fire for not including immigration reform in his “plan for change”. If this changes, Sharma explained that he may need to negotiate with the EU.
She concluded: “The UK may need to negotiate new agreements with the EU to ensure that failed asylum seekers are returned to the European country they transited through, rather than remaining in the UK.
“This could also lead to with EU nations such as France to curb illegal migration. While such cooperation could strengthen UK-EU ties, it would come at a cost.
“While the EU seeks to tighten asylum and appeals processes, the UK must decide whether to align with EU reforms or pursue an independent approach to deportation policies.”