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European capitals have moved to add additional text into Michel Barnier’s negotiating guidelines that states transfers back to the continent will stop unless a special arrangement is agreed. The bloc thinks they can use the fresh demands as a bargaining chip to secure trade-offs for their hardline approach to fisheries. A new draft of the EU’s negotiation mandate, seen by Express.co.uk, presented to member states outlines plans for a new joint deal for “cooperation on asylum and irregular migration of nationals other than those of the Parties”.

The new guidelines insist on “cooperation regarding asylum policy”. EU sources said the new demands have been prompted by an increased number of attempts by migrants to enter Britain from European countries. “The UK transfers a great deal of asylum seekers to EU countries,” one source said.

Michel Barnier ordered to use asylum seekers as bargaining chip in UK talks

EU capitals will finalise Mr Barnier's negotiating mandate tomorrow

“We want to stop that and make the UK responsible for its own influx.” Currently, the Dublin Regulation allows Britain to transfer asylum seekers back to their first point of entry into Europe. But after Brexit, the bloc has made clear the provision will no longer apply unless they can reach a deal with Britain during the trade negotiations. In 2018, the UK submitted 5,510 requests for other member states to take back migrants – mainly to France, Germany and Italy.

Any asylum deal could be used in a trade-off for access to UK fishing waters

But it received only 1,940 demands from other EU countries to take in asylum seekers, mostly in cases of family reunification. Brussels sources have suggested a new asylum pact could become part of a “supplementary agreement” that means the bloc could request a deal in another area before taking back refugees from Britain. One diplomat said: Anything different would require a demand elsewhere, on fish perhaps?” MUST READ: Brexit defeat: EU claims first trade victory as Johnson backs down

Boris Johnson has repeatedly claimed he will take back control of British waters