Germany’s Plans to Combat Boat Smuggling Face Uncertainty Ahead of 2025

Doubts are emerging regarding Germany’s commitment to tighten laws aimed at prosecuting small-boat smugglers by the end of 2025. Current legislation allows for facilitating people-smuggling to a third country—such as the United Kingdom post-Brexit—to remain technically legal. As discussions continue, the interior ministry in Berlin has indicated it plans to introduce a bill to parliament, but a definitive timeline for its approval remains uncertain.

The German government’s spokesperson emphasized that the federal government has no influence over the parliamentary process once a bill is agreed upon by the cabinet. Concerns are growing among British officials about whether sufficient time remains in Germany’s parliamentary calendar for the bill to pass before the Christmas break. Although the UK Home Office maintains it has not received any notifications of delays from Berlin, a staff member at the Bundestag noted that while there may be “theoretically” a window for the bill’s passage, it does not seem to be a priority for the government.

France is also reportedly stepping back from a recent commitment to increase its maritime interventions against small boats, which adds to the complexity of the situation. The UK’s Labour government faces pressure to demonstrate that its approach to international collaboration can effectively address the issue of small boat crossings.

Last year, an investigation by the BBC revealed that Germany has been used as a hub by small-boat smugglers, who store dinghies intended for illegal crossings of the English Channel. Following this revelation, Germany pledged to amend its laws to make such activities explicitly illegal, which was seen as a positive step by the UK government. Any delays in enacting these changes could lead to frustration in the UK, which has long urged Berlin to strengthen its rules and enforcement mechanisms.

The interior ministry in Berlin has prepared a legal provision that seeks to expand “criminal liability for cross-border human smuggling to the United Kingdom.” However, details on whether the Cabinet has approved these plans remain unclear. In Germany, domestic debates predominantly focus on internal immigration levels, leaving the proposed changes to smuggling laws relatively under the radar.

Skepticism exists within Berlin regarding the impact of the proposed legal changes on achieving UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s repeated commitment to “smash the gangs” behind human trafficking. Almost a year ago, Germany agreed to revise its laws, following the BBC’s investigation. In July, alongside a landmark treaty, both the UK and Germany expressed their goal for the Bundestag to adopt the legislation by the end of 2025.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously indicated that little time would be necessary to enact the change after the summer recess. The anticipated law is expected to provide German prosecutors with additional tools to address the supply and storage of dangerous small boat equipment. Currently, investigators often rely on “collateral crime” charges such as violence or money laundering to pursue smugglers, or they depend on judicial orders from other countries to carry out raids.

A spokesperson for the UK Home Office commented, “We welcome the commitment from Germany to make it illegal to facilitate illegal migration to the UK.” The spokesperson added that the law change is expected to be adopted by the end of the year, although the timing ultimately remains at the discretion of the German government.