The European Union has taken a decisive step towards enhancing international collaboration in the fight against migrant smuggling, as the plight of migrants seeking passage through the Sahara and Mediterranean routes to Europe continues to worsen.
At a gathering in Brussels, attended by representatives from 57 countries, the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling was unveiled as a significant move to address the escalating crisis. Marija Pejčinović Burić, the Council of Europe secretary general, emphasised the need for unity in closing legislative loopholes and strengthening international systems to combat the abhorrent trade in human lives.
In response to this pressing issue, the EU Commission has proposed a new legislation to combat migrant smuggling. The action plan aims to provide guidance to member states, focusing on the removal of obstacles to investigate and prosecute smugglers while enhancing global cooperation and information sharing.
The Reykjavik Declaration, endorsed by European leaders in May, seeks to tackle the trafficking of migrants while safeguarding the rights of those at risk, reiterating the importance of upholding human rights in these efforts.
Concerns have been raised by the European Commission over the abolition of a law on migrant trafficking by the junta rulers in Niger. The move is feared to result in an increase in illegal attempts to reach Europe, amplifying the risks faced by migrants. General Abdourahamane Tiani’s decision to repeal the 2015 law, previously supported by EU funding, raises apprehensions about the potential rise in fatalities in the desert.
European Union Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson expressed deep concerns about the implications of this decision, emphasizing the significant risk it poses and the potential for further loss of life. The dismantling of the law, which was established under Niger’s deposed civilian government, had notably led to enhanced surveillance of the desert. The lack of this regulation may prompt migrants to resort to more perilous alternative routes to bypass surveillance.
Moreover, the EU has highlighted a correlation between the decline in illegal migration from Tunisia and a subsequent surge in arrivals from Libya, underscoring the dynamic nature of migration patterns and the need for comprehensive strategies to address this complex issue.
