The victims were among 82 people packed onto the vessel, which became stranded on a beach at Neufchatel-Hardelot, around 12 kilometers (seven miles) south of the port city of Boulogne, according to regional official Christophe Marx.

Emergency services responded after the boat encountered difficulty near the shore, but the two women could not be saved. Authorities did not immediately release their identities or nationalities.

The latest deaths bring the number of people killed this year while attempting the crossing from northern France to the southern coast of Britain to at least eight, according to French officials.

In 2025, at least 29 migrants died attempting the same journey, highlighting the continued dangers posed by the increasingly crowded and often unstable small boats used by people trying to reach the United Kingdom.

Despite tighter enforcement and joint security efforts between Paris and London, the Channel route remains a major pathway for migrants and asylum seekers seeking entry into Britain.

Last month, Britain and France signed a new three-year agreement aimed at reducing crossings, with France committing to deploy more police officers and gendarmes along its northern coastline while the British government agreed to increase financial support for coastal security operations.

The deal reflects growing political pressure on both governments to curb irregular migration and dismantle smuggling networks operating across the Channel.

French authorities say the number of migrant arrivals in Britain so far this year has fallen sharply compared with 2025, though the route continues to carry high humanitarian risks, particularly during poor weather and overcrowded departures.

Rights groups have repeatedly warned that stronger border enforcement alone has not stopped crossings but instead pushed migrants toward more dangerous routes and riskier conditions at sea.

The English Channel remains one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, making small-boat crossings especially hazardous for migrants traveling in unseaworthy vessels often launched at night or in rough conditions.

In a joint letter to EU leaders, Mette Frederiksen and Giorgia Meloni said Europe “cannot risk a repeat” of the earlier influx, when hundreds of thousands arrived, many fleeing the Syrian civil war.

The two leaders urged the European Commission to adopt a 458-million-euro ($527 million) humanitarian aid package aimed in part at supporting populations affected by the Middle East conflict before displacement leads to onward migration toward Europe.

“The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is increasingly worrying,” they wrote, noting that the region already hosts large numbers of displaced people. They warned that unmanaged flows could have implications not only for those directly affected but also for the “security and cohesion” of the European Union.

Their proposal emphasizes assistance to countries in the region to manage displacement locally, reducing the likelihood of large-scale migration toward Europe.

Frederiksen and Meloni said the EU must strengthen its external borders and improve preparedness to respond to potential migration pressures. “We cannot afford to be taken by surprise as in the past,” they said, calling for proactive steps if the situation deteriorates.

The initiative reflects a broader push among some EU leaders to tighten migration policies in response to geopolitical instability and evolving security concerns.

The issue has also been raised by other European leaders. Friedrich Merz warned earlier this month that instability in Iran could have “far-reaching consequences,” including increased migration flows.

Frederiksen and Meloni were joined by Rob Jetten and other EU representatives in informal discussions with the European Commission on “innovative” approaches to limit immigration in light of the conflict.

The warnings come as the war, which began with a bombardment of Iran by the United States and Israel in late February, continues to reshape regional dynamics and raise concerns across Europe.

Rising energy costs linked to the conflict and fears of a renewed refugee influx have elevated the Middle East crisis to a central issue at the summit, officials said, alongside efforts to secure agreement on a 90 billion-euro ($104 billion) loan intended to support Ukraine’s war-strained finances.

Energy and Middle East concernsLeaders are weighing options to mitigate economic shocks from the conflict, including proposals from the European Commission for a “toolbox” of measures aimed at lowering energy prices across the 27-nation bloc. A senior EU diplomat said no single policy would suit the bloc’s diverse energy markets, underscoring the complexity of the response.

Several EU countries have resisted calls from U.S. President Donald Trump to deploy military assets to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global shipments of oil, gas and fertilizer, reflecting caution over deeper involvement in the conflict.

The summit is also focused on a standoff between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and other EU leaders over the Ukraine loan agreed in principle in December. Orbán withdrew support after disruptions to the Druzhba oil pipeline earlier this year, citing energy security concerns.

“If there is no oil, there is no money,” Orbán said in a social media post, linking Hungary’s backing of the loan to stable energy supplies.

EU officials are seeking to persuade Hungary and Slovakia, whose Prime Minister Robert Fico has also adopted pro-Russia positions, to lift their objections. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has preposed EU funding to repair the Druzhba pipeline and develop alternative supply routes for both countries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said blocking the loan was “absolutely unfair,” stressing that the funds are essential as Kyiv faces a deepening budget crisis amid its war with Russia, which began in February 2022.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged swift agreement on both the loan and a new package of sanctions against Moscow, warning against allowing domestic political considerations within member states to hinder collective action.

He said the EU must “increase the pressure on Moscow together,” in coordination with the United States, as leaders gather to reconcile internal divisions with mounting geopolitical and economic pressures.