23/04/24 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 23 April, MEPs confirmed by 563 votes to 7, with 17 abstentions, a new directive extending the scope of measures to combat and prevent trafficking of human beings and to provide better support for its victims (see EUROPE 13335/8). In addition to labour and sexual exploitation, the new law criminalises forced marriage, illegal adoption and the exploitation of surrogate motherhood at European level. This will include criminalising the use of services provided by a victim of human trafficking, where the user knows that the victim is being exploited, introducing sanctions for companies convicted of trafficking by excluding them, for example, from tendering procedures and the reimbursement of public aid or subsidies, or providing support for victims including access to shelters and safe accommodation. (SP)