These issues were discussed at Eurojust’s Annual Meeting on Migrant Smuggling, organised by Eurojust in November 2021, with 25 countries, 7 international organisations and members of the Migrant Smuggling Focus Group represented.

 This meeting marks an important step forward in Eurojust’s commitment to the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings. We will take inspiration from the Annual Meeting discussions to implement all the initiatives foreseen by the EU action plan against migrant smuggling, to enhance and support the efforts of the competent judicial authorities. Looking to the future, we are creating the conditions to finally begin cooperation with our African and South Partner Countries (SPC), taking advantage of the EuroMed Justice Programme hosted by Eurojust.

Practitioners discussed with the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator and the OSCE Special Representative the importance of protecting victims in migrant smuggling cases where migrants have suffered any sort of exploitation. Participants also addressed the need to update the legislative framework to tackle the use of digital platforms to facilitate migrant smuggling.

The participation of EuroMed Justice representatives from Algeria, Tunisia and Israel in the meeting marked the first important step forward in the joint cross-Mediterranean commitment to fight migrant smuggling. The need to further enhance operational judicial cooperation with South Partner Countries and the West African Network of Central Authorities and Prosecutors was emphasised.

During the event, the European Commission invited EU Member States to make greater use of Eurojust’s available support to migrant smuggling investigations, through operational tools such as JITs. Eurojust’s newly published Booklet on Judicial use of information following the debriefing of migrants at external borders was also presented. The booklet underlines the need for the judiciary’s early involvement in investigations and the importance of obtaining information from migrants as early as possible.

As a result of the meeting, an internal discussion took place within the College of Eurojust, to outline how the Agency, national judiciaries and strategic partners will work together to implement the renewed EU action plan against migrant smuggling.

 Eurojust’s Migrant Smuggling Focus group offers a unique platform for practitioners to discuss imminent practical and legal challenges linked to migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings. The criminal landscape is constantly changing, and the constant exchange of experiences is pivotal for our joint success.