The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy have today proposed a new EU sanctions regime to combat the smuggling of migrants, human trafficking and other serious forms of organised crime, including trafficking in firearms and illicit drugs, as well as money laundering. The President of the […]
Specialist prosecutors step up the fight against human trafficking
On 17 and 18 June, the Working Group of Prosecutors Specialising in Human Trafficking met at Eurojust’s headquarters in The Hague. The meeting was co-chaired by the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator and focused on recent developments in the fight against human trafficking. This fifth meeting of the Working Group addressed the practical challenges of applying the […]
The Commission is launching a €16.5 million call for proposals to dismantle criminal networks
On 21 May, the European Commission published a call for proposals to co-fund projects aimed a tcombating organised crime, drug trafficking and human trafficking. With a budget of €16.55 million, support will be provided to police forces and law enforcement agencies in general, as well as to civil society and other public and private bodies […]
No longer invisible: EU launches campaign against human trafficking
The European Commission has launched an EU-wide awareness campaign to combat human trafficking. Every year, around 10,000 people are identified as victims of trafficking in the EU, and many more go unnoticed and unprotected. Victims include both EU and non-EU citizens who are forced into sexual or labour exploitation, forced crime or other forms of […]
Over 30 potential victims identified in action against human trafficking enabled online
From 15 to 19 September 2025, Europol supported the fourth edition of the EMPACT Trafficking in Human Beings (THB) Hackathon, an action week against human trafficking enabled online. It was led by Dutch authorities, with the support of Germany and the United Kingdom, and brought together 73 specialists from 26 countries across the world. Eurojust […]
EU backs reinforced Europol role on migrant smuggling and trafficking
The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council to reinforce Europol’s role and inter-agency cooperation in the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings. This regulation was proposed by the Commission in November 2023. The fight against migrant smuggling is a Commission priority, as President von der […]
Council gives go-ahead to strengthen rules against trafficking in human beings
The Council adopted a directive that adds the exploitation of surrogacy, of forced marriage and of illegal adoption as forms of exploitation covered by the EU’s anti-trafficking law. The modification reflects the gravity, as well as the prevalence and the relevance of these forms of exploitation. Knowingly using the service provided by a trafficking victim will […]
Europol: 13 victims of human trafficking rescued in Spain
Europol has supported the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) and the Polish Border Guard (Straż Graniczna) in an operation targeting a criminal organisation trafficking human beings for the purposes of sexual and labour exploitation in Spain. The investigation has resulted in 17 arrests and the safeguarding of 13 victims. The suspects were arrested in Madrid, […]
Trafficking in human beings: Commission proposes stronger rules to fight the evolving crime
The Commission proposes to strengthen the rules that prevent and combat trafficking in human beings. Every year over 7000 people become victims of human trafficking in the EU. That figure can be expected to be much higher as many victims remain undetected. The yearly cost of trafficking in human beings in the EU reaches EUR […]