The EU-UK summit is a vital opportunity for leaders to work together to reduce Channel crossings, with evidence suggesting the current approach is not succeeding, with a third more (31%) people taking these dangerous journeys compared with the same time last year.

Later today, the presidents of the European Council and European Commission will meet with Keir Starmer at a summit in the UK. The Refugee Council says this is a key moment to seek deeper co-operation with EU member states to tackle the rise in boat crossings and immediately prevent further deaths on the Channel.

The charity has assessed data which shows that the UK Government's current approach to "smashing the gangs" and increasing border surveillance in co-operation with Europe is not, so far, achieving a reduction in Channel crossings and is contributing to making journeys deadlier.  Analysis shows that, as of 12 May 2025, 12,407 people had crossed the Channel so far this year, a 31% (2,852) increase on the same time last year, with eleven tragic deaths.

This is despite EU data showing that the number of people attempting to make the crossing fell in the first three months of the year. According to Frontex, there was a 4% fall to 11,204 people attempting to make the crossing between January and March 2025. The Refugee Council suggests that this could reflect smuggling gangs responding to steps taken by the UK and French governments to bolster border security and surveillance. It also argues it is why other measures are needed.

Most people crossing in small boats are men, women and children who have been forced from their homes due to war and persecution. In 2024, nearly two-thirds (62%) of people who made the crossing would be expected to be recognised as refugees by the Home Office, if their claims were processed. Since 2021, people from Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Eritrea and Sudan have consistently been among the highest nationalities taking the dangerous journey.

The Refugee Council argues a key way to reduce the number of people making the crossing is to provide a safe alternative which would allow people to have their claims processed in Britain. The charity is calling on the Government to share responsibility for the processing of asylum applications with its European neighbours and support people with family in Britain to come here safely.

Jon Featonby, Chief Policy Analyst, at the Refugee Council, said:

The Government is right to tackle the awful gangs that profiteer from desperate people who are simply trying to find safety. But the fact remains, that these measures alone are so far not achieving the intended outcome, with deadly crossings rising.

Most men, women and children taking these journeys are fleeing countries like Sudan, where war is forcing them from their homes. No one risks their life on a flimsy boat in the Channel unless they are running from horrors more acute than what they find on the sea.

These rising numbers mean the Government must immediately move from enforcement-only to a comprehensive approach which also includes cross-national co-operation and ensuring refugees can access safe and legal pathways.

This week’s summit is a big opportunity to urgently create concrete, evidence-based policies that support people with ties to Britain to come here safely and a process to remove people who could apply for asylum elsewhere.

Notes to editors

• Report author available for interview.
• For further questions contact Refugee Council’s media team at [email protected] or call 07880 556931