Eurostar immigration controls move into Europe

Full UK immigration controls on Eurostar trains will move from London to Europe, following the finalising today of a deal between the UK and Belgium governments.

Together with the Home Secretary's deal with the French government, today's agreement moves all UK immigration controls on Eurostar passengers from London Waterloo station to stations in Europe.

Immigration officers will be able to stop individuals with false, stolen or inadequate documents or those who do not have permission to enter the UK before they can board trains to Britain.

Home Office Minister Des Browne said: "The agreement we have reached today is a significant step forward and our partnership with Belgium and France has been vital to this. I am grateful to Patrick Dewael and Dominique de Villepin for their co-operation.

"Our strategy of moving more border controls abroad is already paying dividends. At French Eurostar stations, introducing UK document checks has cut asylum applications at Waterloo by more than 90 per cent.

"Today's agreement with Belgium will enable us to move our controls from London Waterloo to Brussels, stopping would-be illegal immigrants before they set off for the UK."

The tripartite agreement signed today at The Hague will enable UK immigration officers to begin checks on all Eurostar trains leaving Brussels-Midi station from the end of October 2004. The French Government previously signed the agreement in April 2004.

UK immigration controls already operate in France at Calais, Dunkerque and Boulogne ferry ports, the Eurotunnel terminal of Coquelles and the Eurostar stations of Paris Gare du Nord, Lille and Calais Frethun.

(gmcg/mb)