Foreign Secretary David Lammy is set to ratify a landmark migration deal with Serbia this week, as Britain seeks to clamp down on people-smuggling networks operating through the Western Balkans. The agreement, first announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer five months ago at the European Political Community summit in Hungary, aims to speed up intelligence-sharing between the two nations.
Tackling irregular migration and organised crime
The Western Balkans remains a crucial transit corridor for migrants attempting to reach the European Union and, ultimately, the UK. According to the Foreign Office, nearly 22,000 irregular border crossings into Europe were recorded from the region last year.
Amid a record surge in Channel crossings during the first three months of 2025, the UK Government is ramping up efforts to combat organised immigration crime. The new co-operation agreement will enable British and Serbian authorities to share intelligence more swiftly, targeting criminal gangs that profit from smuggling vulnerable people.
Mr Lammy, speaking ahead of his visit, condemned the exploitative practices of people-smugglers, stating:
“(Criminals) are risking lives for profit and becoming increasingly violent in their determination to make as much money as possible.
This diabolical, lawless trade of smuggling vulnerable people is completely unacceptable, and we are determined to end it as we secure the UK’s borders under our plan for change.”
UK’s strategic interests in the Balkans
In addition to signing the migration deal, Mr Lammy will meet his counterparts across the region and speak directly with women who have survived human trafficking.
His visit underscores the UK’s broader strategic interest in the Western Balkans, a region of growing geopolitical significance. Russia has long sought to exert influence in the area, which includes NATO allies Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. Maintaining stability in the Balkans is viewed as critical to European security, particularly as uncertainty looms over the future of the war in Ukraine.
During his visit, Mr Lammy will also meet British troops serving in Kosovo as part of NATO’s KFOR peacekeeping mission, the alliance’s largest overseas deployment. European security is expected to be high on the agenda, with the UK reinforcing its commitment to resilience and stability in the Balkans.
Earlier this year, Dame Karen Pierce, former UK ambassador to the US, was appointed as Britain’s special envoy to the Western Balkans. The UK is also set to host a major European summit in the autumn under the Berlin Process, bringing together leaders from the region to discuss economic and security co-operation.
Political fallout over Labour’s migration stance
The deal with Serbia comes as Labour faces criticism from the Green Party over its tougher stance on migration. A recently distributed Labour leaflet claimed credit for delivering “the four biggest deportation flights in UK history”, drawing backlash from progressive voices.
Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, accused Labour of abandoning its principles, stating:
“Labour’s recent leaflet boasting about deporting more people than the Tories is sickening.
Labour are failing to provide safe and legal routes into the UK while seemingly revelling in turning people’s lives upside down.
Any claim the Labour Party may have once had to be a party of compassion or principle has well and truly gone.”
However, Labour defended its approach, insisting that securing borders was a priority. A party spokesperson hit back at the Greens, saying:
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“The Green Party is clearly not serious about tackling the issues facing our country.
They want to block our progress on fixing the asylum system and block new housing and infrastructure projects that will grow our economy and put money back in people’s pockets.
This Labour Government’s Plan for Change has seen returns and removals hit their highest rate for eight years, and our new Border Security Command will go after the criminal gangs running this vile trade in human misery.”
Record channel crossings in 2025
Migration remains a pressing challenge for the UK Government, with 2025 already seeing record numbers of people making small-boat crossings. Since Sir Keir Starmer took office, nearly 30,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats, including 6,642 so far this year.
Earlier this week, Sir Keir placed blame on the previous Conservative government for failing to prevent people-smuggling operations. He criticised the “total fragmentation” of policing, Border Force, and intelligence agencies under Tory leadership, arguing that Labour’s newly established Border Security Command would help close enforcement gaps.
As the UK pushes ahead with its migration crackdown, the deal with Serbia marks another step in the Government’s broader strategy to strengthen border security and disrupt illegal migration networks. However, with political divisions growing over Labour’s approach, the migration debate is set to remain a contentious issue in the months ahead.
