Immigration Minister faces questions on migrant smuggling
On Wednesday, the Immigration Minister, James Brokenshire MP, will be questioned by the House of Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee as part of the Committee's inquiry into the EU's Action Plan against migrant smuggling. The Committee will then speak to representatives of the EU's border agency, Frontex, and the European Commission.
At 10.30am, the Committee will meet Mr Brokenshire to investigate the problem of migrant smuggling in the UK, and law enforcement efforts to combat it. The Committee will also ask about the UK's contribution to the fight against migrant smuggling in the Mediterranean and across the EU. They will explore how the UK's cooperation with EU partners works in practice, and how this cooperation benefits the UK.
At 11.30am, the Committee will hear from Fabrice Leggeri, Executive Director of Frontex, and Dana Spinant, Head of Unit for Irregular Migration and Return Policy, DG Home at the EU Commission.
Mr Leggeri and Ms Spinant are likely to address a number of issues with the Committee, including:
- the actions currently being undertaken at EU level to ensure the creation of more safe and legal routes for refugees;
- the ways in which Frontex currently works with other EU Agencies in the fight against migrant smuggling, and how the Commission will support and coordinate such cooperation in the future; and
- how Frontex's budget and mandate will change to take account of its expanded role, in accordance with the Action Plan, which includes a role in the returning of irregular migrants to their home countries and involvement in asylum interviews.
The evidence sessions will take place from 10.30am, on Wednesday 16 September in Committee Room 3 of the House of Lords.
