A Global Alliance to counter migrant smuggling
Convened by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, the International Conference on a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling will take place on Tuesday 28 November 2023, in Brussels.
Aiming to strengthen international cooperation against migrant smuggling, the conference brings together representatives from Member States, key partner countries as well as international organisations. Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Olivier Várhelyi and Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen will also be attending.
We know that migration requires constant work. And nowhere is that more vital than in the fight against human smugglers. They attract desperate people with their lies. And put them on deadly routes across the desert, or on boats that are unfit for the sea. [...] We need to work with our partners to tackle this global plague of human trafficking. This is why the Commission will organise an International Conference on fighting people smuggling. It is time to put an end to this callous and criminal business!
Visual displaying facts and figures:
90% of irregular migrants come through smugglers;
15,000 smugglers reported by Europol in 2022;
331,000 irregular entries at EU external borders in 2022.
Stepping up the fight against migrant smugglers
Migrant smuggling is a global criminal activity. Poverty, social and political instability, as well as the limited availability of legal migration routes, push people towards criminal networks to facilitate their unauthorised entry, transit or stay in the EU. These journeys can be extremely dangerous, and smugglers frequently expose migrants to both life-threatening risks and violence. The loss of lives as a result of migrant smuggling demands an assertive and urgent response at EU and global level.
As explained by President von der Leyen:
“The way these smugglers operate is continuously evolving. But our legislation is over twenty years old and needs an urgent update. So, we need new legislation and a new governance structure. We need stronger law enforcement, prosecution, and a more prominent role for our agencies – Europol, Eurojust and Frontex.”
Image of a boat and a helicopter flying on top of it. The text reads: Migrant smuggling generated over EUR 200 million for criminals in 2019 in maritime routes.
On 28 November 2023, the Commission adopted a new legislative package to prevent and fight migrant smuggling, setting out a new legal and operational framework against migrant smuggling for the years to come. The proposed Directive aims to effectively investigate, prosecute and sanction organised criminal networks responsible for migrant smuggling; harmonise penalties that take account of the seriousness of the offence; improve jurisdictional reach; reinforce Member States’ resources; and improve data collection and reporting.
In addition, the Commission is proposing a Regulation to reinforce Europol’s role in the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, establishing the European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling.
Programme of the conference to counter migrant smuggling
Participants of the conference will discuss prevention and responses to migrant smuggling, as well as the alternatives to irregular migration.
See the conference’s complete programme
A press conference with Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, will take place on Tuesday 28 November at +/- 13:15 CET and will be transmitted live on EbS. The opening and closing of the conference will be livestreamed on EbS.
More information
- Proposal for a Directive laying down minimum rules to prevent and counter the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and stay in the Union
- Proposal for a Regulation on enhancing police cooperation in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings
- Call to Action on a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling
- Press release
- Audiovisual service
- Factsheet on EU stepping up the fight against migrant smuggling
- Migrant Smuggling