BRUSSELS, Belgium / RankWire.AI / – European Commission unveiled a comprehensive new strategy on October 16 aimed at tackling human trafficking across the entire European Union. This initiative precedes EU Anti-Trafficking Day on October 18. Authorities reported over 20,000 victims in 2023 and 2024, marking a 16.1% increase, though the Commission emphasized that many cases remain hidden. The plan outlines six key priorities to facilitate a unified response to this crime.
Trafficking within the EU manifests in various forms such as sexual exploitation, forced labor, coerced criminal activities, begging, and arranged marriages. Women and girls represent 63% of identified victims, predominantly for sexual purposes, while children account for 15%. Men comprise 74% of victims exploited through forced labor. The Commission highlighted that traffickers continue to target vulnerable populations and that adapting responses to the rising cases is crucial for the bloc.
Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner stated that traffickers will be held accountable, their networks dismantled, and victims protected. He emphasized that no person should be for sale. This new strategy expands on the EU’s previous plan covering 2021 to 2025 and incorporates the revised Anti-Trafficking Directive, which Member States are required to implement into national law by July 15, 2026. The directive broadens the scope of trafficking crimes.
Six Strategic Focus Areas Targeting Technology and Organized Crime
The initial priority emphasizes leveraging technology to prevent, identify, and investigate trafficking. As much of the recruitment, advertising, and control of victims now occurs online, enhancing digital tools is vital. The second priority promotes closer cooperation with businesses and labor inspectors to mitigate exploitation risks and facilitate early detection, including plans for a European business coalition against trafficking. Labour inspectors will work more closely with the European Labour Authority.
The third priority addresses transnational trafficking associated with organised crime. It advocates for enhanced cross-border cooperation, intelligence-driven policing, financial investigations, and asset recovery efforts. Member States are encouraged to establish additional joint investigation teams supported by Europol and Eurojust, which already assist national investigators in cross-border cases. The fourth priority focuses on risks connected to migration, emphasizing improved screening, border procedures, and reception safeguards for new arrivals in the EU.
Preparedness, Rapid Response, and Victim Support Strategies
The fifth priority aims to bolster prevention, readiness, and swift action during crises, with the Commission preparing guidance on identifying trafficking risks in emergencies. This builds on the anti-trafficking plan adopted in 2022 for people fleeing Ukraine. The sixth priority enhances support and protection for vulnerable individuals and victims, ensuring their rights are upheld throughout investigations and legal proceedings.
The European Parliament and the Council will now review the strategy, while the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator collaborates with national counterparts on its implementation. The Commission stated that the six pillars offer a coordinated and resilient approach to a cross-border crime. Member States retain responsibility for victim identification and prosecuting offenders under their national laws. This strategy aims to steer EU efforts against trafficking in the years ahead.