Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The European Commission has proposed new rules against human trafficking, stressing that new bloc-wide rules are needed to fight against it.
In a statement released on Monday, the EC predicted that more than 7,000 people are brought illegally to the EU each year and stressed that the figure is likely much higher.
According to the EC, females account for the majority of victims of human trafficking, but the share of males is increasing.
“This calls for new action at EU level, as traffickers benefit from opportunities to recruit, control, transport and exploit victims, as well as move profits and reach out to users in the EU and beyond,” the Commission pointed out.
Margaritis Schinas, European Commissioner for Promoting our European Way of Life, stressed that human trafficking is complex and added that traffickers are using technological advances to strengthen their operations.
“We will leave no stone unturned in bringing more criminals to justice and saving more victims from these heinous crimes,” he pledged and concluded “it is only through working closely with member states that we will strengthen our capacity to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings, and to better protect its victims.”
New opportunities
Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, noted that the coronavirus crisis and increasing digitalisation created opportunities for traffickers to exploit vulnerable people.
“The EU needs stricter rules to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings, and to protect the victims… we cannot tolerate that users of exploited services, who are aware of the crime, remain unpunished, which is why we propose that member states criminalise the knowing use of exploited services,” she stated.
Diane Schmitt, EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator, stressed the importance of punishing companies that profit from forced labour and noted that fines are not enough.
“We need a more comprehensive identification, protection and support system for victims of trafficking, which can only be achieved via accessible and effective national referral mechanisms,” she concluded.
The EC pointed out that the EU Parliament and Council will discuss the proposal and concluded that bloc members will bring their regulations in line with new rules once they are adopted.
