May pledge to keep up funding as migration crisis engulfs leaders
THERESA May will today pledge to keep helping EU efforts to tackle the migration crisis in the Mediterranean Sea after Britain quits the bloc next year.
At a summit of European leaders in Brussels, the Prime Minister is to indicate cash from the taxpayer-funded overseas aid budget could continue to be spent on schemes to discourage potential migrants in Africa and the Middle East from attempting to make the hazardous journey to Europe.
Her offer is likely to be viewed as a goodwill gesture of future cooperation while the Brexit negotiations remain stalled over the issue of future customs arrangements.
Today’s EU Council meeting is expected to be dominated by the European migration crisis, with many Eastern European leaders poised to demand tougher action from German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Tensions
Together with being under fire for her open-door border policies, Mrs Merkel is also fighting tensions within her coalition government.
With emotions running high – Italy has recently prevented boats carrying migrants operated by a charity from docking – the talks are expected to drag long into the early hours of tomorrow morning.
Discussion of Brexit will be limited to a brief update on the progress of the negotiations.
Over the summit dinner tonight, Mrs May is expected to say that the migration situation across the Mediterranean remains “a priority” for Britain.
A UK Government source said: “The Prime Minister will re-emphasise the UK’s commitment to working with the EU to address the common challenge posed by illegal migration now and after the UK leaves the EU.”
Earlier this week, the Government announced that an extra UK Border Force cutter vessel was being deployed to the Mediterranean to help with search and rescue operations.
Mrs May will also warn leaders that the EU “urgently needs to develop collective defences” against growing threats – including from Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
“Russia and other actors seem to be trying to sow disunity, destabilise our democracies and test our resolve,” the Prime Minister is expected to say. She will set out key areas needing attention to protect Europe against threats from hostile nations including online disinformation and cyber attacks.
Mrs May is expected to press for extending the current EU sanctions against Russia following the poisoning attack in March on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury and other outrages.