EU agrees on new directive in the fight against human trafficking

In the future, stricter laws will apply in the EU in the fight against human trafficking. Forced marriages, illegal adoptions and forced surrogacy are included under the reform. Anyone who uses these services is also committing a criminal offense.

The fight against human trafficking in the EU should become more effective. Representatives of the member states and the European Parliament have agreed to create an existing one Comprehensively expand the law enforcement directive.

According to the Belgian EU Council Presidency, the planned changes stipulate, among other things, that people who knowingly use the services of human trafficking victims can be punished. This could be, for example, sexual acts, but also classic work performance. The new rules should apply EU-wide.

Longer ones Prison sentences for human traffickers

In addition, it is planned that forced marriages, illegal adoptions and forced surrogacy will in future fall under the law against human trafficking. This is intended to ensure that EU member states take action against as many forms of exploitation as possible within the framework of their national legal systems.

The offenses should be punished with a maximum prison sentence of at least five years. This means that penal rules that only provide for penalties of up to two years for such offenses would no longer be possible. For particularly serious crimes, prison sentences of at least ten years should be imposed.

In criminal proceedings for human trafficking, the distribution of pornographic images or videos should also be considered an aggravating offense.

More than 7,000 victims of human trafficking in the EU

According to 2022 data from the European Commission, more than 7,000 people become victims of human trafficking in the EU every year. Since many crimes are not recorded, the number of unreported cases is likely to be significantly higher. The annual cost of human trafficking in the EU was estimated at 2.7 billion euros at the time. According to the information, most of the victims are women and girls, but men are also affected – particularly through exploitation of their labor.

Commenting on the agreement, Belgian Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt said the revised directive would enable EU states to take better action against horrific crimes. “Human trafficking is a crime that requires significant victims,” he commented. Before the new directive can come into force, the agreements must be confirmed by the Council of EU Member States and the plenary session of the European Parliament. The EU countries then have two years to implement the European rules into national law.