Sir Keir Starmer will host Western Balkans leaders for a summit in London as the UK seeks to agree further measures to bring down the number of migrants arriving illegally.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to peacekeeping in Kosovo ahead of the talks, which will largely focus on how to tackle the shared challenge of irregular migration.
Some 22,000 people were smuggled by gangs last year along routes through the region, which has become increasingly important to tackling illegal migration across Europe.
The UK is already working with partners in the region – comprised of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo – as part of Labour’s pledge to target smuggling gangs and bring down the number of small boat arrivals across the Channel.
The Prime Minister confirmed earlier this year that he had spoken to countries about the possibility of hosting so-called return hubs where the UK could send failed asylum seekers before they are deported.
Talks on acting as third countries to host the hubs are ongoing, it is understood, but no deals are expected to be announced at the Wednesday summit.
Two of the leaders due to attend stressed their countries would not be hosting such hubs at an event at Chatham House on Tuesday.
“When it comes to the hubs, or whatever they are called, I’ve said it, and I repeat – never in Albania,” Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said.
Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajic said his country was not part of the Western Balkans smuggling route because the railway infrastructure is not developed enough.
“Montenegro is not part of the migrant routes through the Balkans,” he said.
Mr Rama asked him if he would host a hub if the UK built railways in his country, to which he replied: “We definitely accept it, if they would invest 10 billion euros into building railways.”
The Prime Minister confirmed the UK would extend its support for the Nato KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo for another three years until December 2028.
The UK has been a key contributor to the force since 1999.
Sir Keir said: “The UK’s commitment to peace and security in the Western Balkans is unwavering. By extending our support to Nato’s Kosovo Force, we are demonstrating our role as a leading Nato ally and standing by our values of stability and democracy.
“Working closely with our partners in the Western Balkans is vital, not only for regional stability, but to ensure security here at home.”
New co-operation on tackling organised crime groups in the Western Balkans involved in the cocaine trade is also to be launched.
The UK is hosting the talks that come as part of the Berlin Process set up by former German chancellor Angela Merkel in 2014 to bring the six Western Balkan countries outside the EU closer to the bloc.
