12/07/24 (Agence Europe) – The revised EU directive on combating trafficking in human beings, amending a 2011 directive, will enter into force on 14 July, the European Commission said on Friday 12 July (see EUROPE 13417/19). Member States will have two years to transpose it. The revised rules will provide law enforcement and judicial authorities with stronger tools to investigate new forms of exploitation, including those that take place online. National law will have to classify the exploitation of surrogate motherhood, forced marriage and illegal adoption as trafficking. The knowing use of services provided by victims of human trafficking will become a criminal offence. Human trafficking committed or facilitated by means of information and communication technologies, including the Internet and social media, will become an aggravating circumstance with higher penalties. (SP)