The party of Ursula von der Leyen has proposed asylum deals with third countries, as Rishi Sunak claimed that parties in the European Union were “following our lead” on illegal migration.

‌The European Commissioner’s European People’s Party (EPP), the largest in the European Parliament, has pledged it wants to “implement the concept of safe third countries.”

‌In its manifesto for the European Elections in June, the EPP said: “Anyone applying for asylum in the EU could also be transferred to a safe third country and undergo the asylum process there”.

‌It comes after the Rwanda Bill, designed to pave the way for the first flights to the central African state for illegal migrants, cleared Parliament and was granted Royal Assent last week.

‌Mr Sunak said that “top parties” in the EU were now following the UK’s lead on illegal migration, after it emerged that the EPP was considering UK-style deals.‌

He wrote in the Mail on Sunday: “I said when I first became Prime Minister that others would recognise a meaningful deterrent is the only way to stop the boats and now even top parties in the EU are following our lead.

‌“If Britain gains a global reputation for being tough on illegal migration, I am very comfortable with that. It is the right thing for our country.

“If Keir Starmer wants to be seen as a soft touch on securing our borders, he will soon learn the consequences of that,” he added.

The full manifesto pledge of the EPP said: “We are committed to the fundamental right to asylum, but the EU, together with its member states, must have the right to decide whom and where is it [sic] granted.

“We will conclude agreements with third countries to ensure asylum seekers can also be granted protection in a civilised and safe way. We want to implement the concept of safe third countries.

‌“Anyone applying for asylum in the EU could also be transferred to a safe third country and undergo the asylum process there.

‌“In case of a positive outcome, the safe third country will grant protection to the applicant on-site.”

‘Regular rhythm of flights’

The manifesto also said that the criteria for a safe third country would be “in line with the core obligations of the Geneva Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)”.

Earlier this year, the ECHR’s most senior judge suggested that the UK’s plans could fall foul of the convention, and many of Mr Sunak’s backbenchers from the Right of the party want Britain to leave it.

The Prime Minister has previously said that the Rwanda plan is “more important” than membership of the ECHR, which some fear could prove an obstacle to the policy.

The Government has said that the first flights will take off to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks, but Mr Sunak insisted that the policy is “not about one flight”.

“Under this government, we are going to permanently remove people to Rwanda with a regular rhythm of multiple flights every month until the boats are stopped and we have truly broken the business model of the criminal gangs who exploit vulnerable people and put their lives at risk,” he wrote.

Ireland’s deputy prime minister has said that the threat of being deported to Rwanda was already “impacting” the country, as people were “fearful” of staying in the UK.