The European Commission published a new strategy to combat trafficking in human beings. In 2023 and 2024, more than 20,000 victims were registered in the EU, a 16.1% increase, though many cases remain unseen. Trafficking takes many forms, including sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, forced criminality, begging and forced marriage.
The new strategy aims to fight this dynamic, focusing on six priorities: better use of technology to prevent and detect trafficking, working more closely with businesses and labour inspectors, stepping up action against organised crime, addressing risks linked to migration, improving preparedness in times of crisis, and strengthening support and protection for people at risk and victims.
Traffickers continue targeting people in vulnerable situations. Women and girls accounted for 63% of registered victims, mainly for sexual exploitation; children represented 15%; and men were the majority of victims trafficked for labour exploitation (74%).
To fight more efficiently the increase in trafficking, the EU must adapt its response. Ahead of EU Anti-Trafficking Day on 18 October, the new strategy sets out six strategic pillars for a coordinated and future-proof approach:
- Harnessing modern technology to improve prevention, detection, and investigation.
The strategy builds on existing tools, such as the Digital Services Act and the EU Internet Forum, as well as upcoming initiatives including the EU action plan against digital fraud. Through the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), the EU will support innovative approaches to digital investigations, including hackathons. - Strengthening private sector engagement to reduce exploitation risks and improve early detection.
The Commission will establish a European business coalition against trafficking in human beings. It will also support Member States in strengthening cooperation between labour inspectors through the European Labour Authority. - Disrupting transnational trafficking linked to organised crime.
The strategy will promote cross-border cooperation, intelligence-led policing, financial investigations and effective asset recovery. The new sanctions regime targeting organised crime, including migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, will enable the EU to freeze criminals’ assets, restrict their movements, cut off their profits and disrupt their business models. The upcoming proposal to modernise rules to combat organised crime will target all organised crime, including criminal networks involved in trafficking. The Commission invites Member States to expand cross-border operational cooperation through joint investigation teams with the support of Europol and Eurojust. - Preventing exploitation linked to migration.
According to the latest data, 36% of registered victims were EU citizens, while 64% were non-EU nationals. The Pact on Migration and Asylum introduces new tools to address trafficking risks, including through screening, the new border procedure, and safeguards in the reception conditions. Strengthening border management capacities to better detect and prevent trafficking at an early stage can also play a key role. Here is where a reinforced mandate for Frontex will allow the agency to better support Member States in uncovering criminal networks and identifying victims. The Commission also continues to support discussions between co-legislators on the proposed Anti-Smuggling Directive and Europol Regulation, the latter aiming to reinforce Europol’s role in the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking. - Enhancing prevention, preparedness and rapid response in crisis situations.
The EU’s swift response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine demonstrated the importance of effective protection mechanisms for persons in vulnerable situations. Building on the anti-trafficking plan with Ukraine, the Commission will develop operational guidance for the various actors involved in identifying and addressing trafficking risks during crises, with the support of EU agencies, Member States, and civil society. - Improving the protection of persons vulnerable to trafficking.
Victims’ rights, support and protection must remain an integral part of law enforcement and judicial responses.
International cooperation is a key element in combatting trafficking in human beings. The Commission will strengthen cooperation with partner countries and international organisations, including with the support of EU agencies in preventing and combatting trafficking in human beings.
