“One in, one out”: the failure of the migration program between France and the United Kingdom

“One in, one out”, the “loose plan” for France? This doctrine supposed to resolve the challenge of small boats crowded with migrants in the Channel was a flop. This pilot program signed between Paris and London in July 2025 consisted of a give-and-take mechanism. The British undertook to legally accept asylum seekers stranded on the French coasts, from Calais to Dunkirk, and wishing to go to the United Kingdom. In exchange, France had to take back the unwanted migrants sent back to it by its English neighbor, at the rate of “one for one”: “one who enters against one who leaves”.

The experiment was to last until October 1 of this year to be evaluated and possibly continued. But it seems that this agreement no longer has the wind in its sails and Paris is considering abandoning the formula, as it is so disappointing. “We are discussing with the British the terms of exit from the agreement,” the French Ministry of the Interior reportedly confirmed…