Germany plans to tighten laws against migrant smuggling to the UK by year-end, coinciding with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to the UK. A new agreement will address migration, business, and defense. The changes will criminalize facilitating illegal migration to the UK, aiding investigations into smuggling operations. The UK and France also announced a pilot returns scheme for asylum seekers. The visit will also focus on defense cooperation and economic investments, including a new UK-Germany Business Forum.