On Wednesday 10 December, the European Commission hosted the second edition of the International Conference of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling, which brought together more than 80 countries - 50 of which signed up to a Joint Declaration.
This gathering was set up in 2023 to try to take action against the routes taken by “smugglers” and their business model. “Since 2014, a staggering number of almost 80,000 people have drowned or gone missing at sea. The loss of migrants’ lives at the hands of smugglers stresses the acute need to tackle migrant smuggling, using all legal, operational, and administrative measures available”, said the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the start of the event.
“The day of the Conference, 10 December 2025, is also International Human Rights Day”.
The adopted Declaration sets out three principles: - stepping up the fight against smugglers; - preventing migrant smuggling and raising awareness on the risks of irregular migration; - strengthening judicial cooperation and law enforcement.
The Declaration places an emphasis on: - strengthening national frameworks, by exchanging information and raising awareness of the risks associated with irregular migration; - working with digital platforms to limit the increasing use of digital tools by smugglers or with the air transport industry.
It is also necessary to develop alternatives to irregular migration, both in countries of origin and destination, by promoting safe and regular channels for mobility, for example via the EU’s Talent Pool. To this end, the President announced the opening of a Gateway Office in India to enable young Indians to seek and find employment in the EU.
The President also indicated that the new mandate of the European Labour Authority in 2026 would aim to better combat exploitation.
Since its creation in 2023, the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling has achieved significant results in dismantling smuggling networks and strengthening international cooperation, says the Commission in a press release.
“This year, irregular crossings at the EU’s external borders have fallen by 26% compared with last year, which bears witness to the impact of close cooperation with countries of origin and transit”.
Europol has also recently been given new tasks in this area (see EUROPE 13759/11).
Link to the Declaration: https://aeur.eu/f/jxh (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)