Commission is launching a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling at a High-level International Conference

Tomorrow, President Ursula von der Leyen, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivier Várhelyi, and Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, will be participating at our International Conference on a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling in Brussels.

This International Conference is delivering on the announcement made by President von der Leyen in the 2023 State of the Union, that the Commission will strengthen its tools to effectively counter migrant smuggling. The opening speech at the Conference will be carried out by President von der Leyen at +/- 09:00 CET and will be broadcast live on EbS.

Criminal networks take advantage of the despair of people, and this abuse often leads to loss of life. Migrant smugglers force hundreds of people onto unseaworthy boats, risking their lives on dangerous routes. The conference brings together representatives from Member States, key partner countries as well as international organisations. The discussions will focus on prevention and response to migrant smuggling as well as alternatives to irregular migration as a key deterrent for smuggling. The Conference will be an occasion to launch a Call to Action for a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling.

The Commission will present tomorrow new legislation on countering migrant smuggling. This covers a Directive laying down minimum rules on the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and stay in the EU, and a Regulation to reinforce Europol's role and inter-agency cooperation in the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings. Together, these initiatives set out the new legal, operational and international cooperation framework against migrant smuggling for the years to come. A press conference with Commissioner Johansson will take place at +/- 13:00 CET and will be transmitted live on EbS.