Internal Security: Commission presents strategies to tackle Organised Crime and Trafficking in Human Beings

Today, the Commission renewed its commitment against organised crime and trafficking in human beings with the adoption of two strategies. The EU Strategy to tackle Organised Crime and the new Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings 2021-2025 propose concrete actions to boost law enforcement and judicial cooperation, tackle organised crime structures and high priority crimes, remove criminal profits and ensure a modern response to technological developments.

As reported in the 2021 Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment published by Europol, despite progress made over the years to reinforce the Union’s response to serious organised crime, the threat remains high, with organised crime groups constantly adjusting their approach, using new technologies and seizing any opportunity to make profits.

While priorities and actions of the Strategy to tackle Organised Crime apply fully to the Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings, the latter adds specific actions to tackle trafficking from end to end – from prevention, through protection of victims, to prosecution and conviction of traffickers.

Alongside these Strategies, the Commission is adopting a recommendation to the Council to open negotiations with Interpol on an EU-Interpol cooperation agreement.

A Commission Staff Working Document on EMPACT, the flagship EU instrument for cooperation to fight organised and serious international crime, accompanies the strategy on organised crime.

Today’s strategies address the Commission commitment to the new way forward on internal security as part of the EU Security Union Strategy for 2020 to 2025.

For More Information

Details

Publication date: 14 April 2021