FASTER ACTION AGAINST MIGRANT SMUGGLING NETWORKS

BRUSSELS, AUGUST 6 /SRNA/ – EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner called on the European Parliament to immediately resume consideration of a directive aimed at strengthening the fight against migrant smuggling networks, after the process was previously blocked.

He stressed that the tragic events in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta demonstrated the need for the swift adoption of relevant legislation.

"The tools are on the table. Now the Parliament and the EU Council must act without delay. Europe must show that those who exploit vulnerable people for profit will be prosecuted, criminally charged and brought to justice," Brunner told Politico.

The European Commission proposed the new directive in 2023. The document calls for tougher penalties for organizing the illegal smuggling of migrants. EU member states agreed on a negotiating position, but discussions on the initiative were halted in the European Parliament.

Political groups in the European Parliament were unable to agree on whether the draft sufficiently protects humanitarian organizations from the risk of criminal prosecution.

Several non-governmental organizations also expressed concern that certain provisions of the document could affect migrants themselves.

At the end of July, Ceuta, located in North Africa and bordering Morocco, faced a large influx of migrants. According to Spain’s Interior Ministry, around 72,000 people entered the city, while approximately 70,000 later returned to Morocco. Several dozen people died.