Seventeen European countries called on the European Commission on Friday to sharpen the EU's rules on returning irregular migrants to their home countries, a document showed, a week ahead of a summit where migration is likely to be on the agenda.

Germany, France and Italy urged the European Union to show restraint in financial rule making and instead focus on boosting the competitiveness of its banking sector, the latest sign of a global political shift to prioritize economic growth over regulation.

An EU deal with the UK allowing Channel migrants to be sent back to France is “not on the table” during Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Brussels this week. British hopes of the bloc-wide agreement were raised after France and Germany wrote to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, requesting her to kick-start negotiations.