The UK and EU have agreed to cooperate more closely on migration, with the British Government signing a deal with Frontex to help police borders.
Home Secretary James Cleverly will meet with European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson today to sign the agreement.
The UK and Frontex will train officials together, share intelligence and station liaison staff to co-ordinate with each other.
Speaking about the deal, Cleverly said: "This government has a plan to break the model of the smuggling gangs, end the abuse of our asylum system and stop the boats.
The UK and EU have agreed to cooperate more closely on migration
PA
"The plan is working with crossings down by a third — but we must go further.
"Organised immigration crime and people smuggling are global challenges that require shared solutions and ambitions.
"Our landmark working arrangement between the UK and Frontex is another crucial step in tackling illegal migration, securing our borders and stopping the boats."
The deal will also see the EU and UK cooperation on developing technologies to protect borders, such as using drones for surveillance.
But Home Office officials have been clear that the deal would not require the UK to take a share of asylum seekers, and would also not make the UK part of wider EU migration policy.
Last year, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer unveiled plans for a similar deal, which would involve a cross-border approach to tackling the gangs.
He said he is planning to seek an EU-wide returns agreement for asylum seekers who arrive in Britain. This could involve the UK agreeing to a quota of migrants it will be forced to accept from the EU each year.
Suella Braverman dismissed the plan, warning that it would "let Brussels decide who comes to the UK".
She said it would "make Britain the dumping ground for many of the millions of illegal migrants that Europe doesn't want."
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The former Home Secretary added: "And none of this will stop the boats."
Rishi Sunak has promised to "stop the boats", but has met obstacles in his attempt to implement the Rwanda scheme - something he argues would serve as a deterrent to stop migrants from coming to the UK.
The scheme was plagued by legal challenges last year, ultimately being blocked by the Supreme Court.
A reworked version of the legislation is being debated in the House of Lords after passing unamended through the Commons last month.
Minister for Illegal Migration Michael Tomlinson insisted that as soon as the Bill passes through Parliament, "planes will take off".
