Frontex is using its own ships for sea rescue in the English Channel for the first time

The European border protection agency Frontex is using its own ships for sea rescue in the English Channel for the first time. Off the French coast, Frontex ships are supposed to support the search and rescue efforts of French ships that help people in distress while crossing from northern France to Great Britain.

The ships will work with a surveillance aircraft that the European Border and Coast Guard has been using over the English Channel since 2021, Frontex said. Accordingly, two Spanish ships are to reinforce the French patrols from September to October and then a Lithuanian ship until January. The French maritime prefecture retains sovereignty over the deployment of the ships provided by Frontex.

The decision follows a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, where migration issues were also discussed. With the operation, Frontex wants to temporarily supplement French capacities in search and rescue operations, said a statement from the French maritime prefecture for the English Channel and the North Sea. Frontex said it was not about intercepting migrants at sea.

France does not stop migrants at sea

French officials are taking action against smugglers, but are not stopping migrants during the crossing itself in order not to put them in danger. After being rescued at sea, the migrants remain at large in France.

The English Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. For years, migrants have been trying to reach Great Britain from France in rubber dinghies. Because of the strong current, this is extremely dangerous and people are repeatedly killed. In ‌August, the French coastguard had to rescue ‌157 people from a burning boat.

Declining number of migrants crossing the English Channel

In the first half of 2026, the number of migrants crossing the English Channel into Great Britain fell significantly, according to the British Home Office. The British government has long been trying to limit migration with French help. As part of a three-year border security deal, Britain agreed in April to pay France up to 780 million euros (£660 million) to prevent illegal crossings. Part of the money is linked to success.

Last year, both countries also agreed on a pilot project. Accordingly, France is taking back undocumented migrants who arrive in Great Britain on small boats. In return, Great Britain accepts the same number of asylum seekers with family ties.