Sunak’s spokesman said on Monday the agreement would mean that both sides will share information on gangs involved in illegal migration and collaborate on technologies to prevent human trafficking.

Frontex “has unparalleled insight into illegal migration and cross-border crime on the European continent, so it is obviously right that we have these conversations to reach these working arrangements that will give us new ways to tackle illegal migration,” Sunak’s spokesman said.

In a readout of a call between Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, Downing Street said an agreement should be formalized in the coming days.

Readout of Sunak/von der Leyen call - note that UK/Frontex deal is done (text is not public yet) pic.twitter.com/hswjfJWX2l

— Steve Peers (@StevePeers) February 19, 2024

Sunak has made stopping the arrival of small boats carrying asylum seekers from France one of his five top priorities, and hopes a fall in arrivals might help his Conservative Party, trailing in opinion polls, pull off an unexpected win at the next general election later this year.