Appendix 4: List of actions in the EU Action Plan against Migrant Smuggling
Objective |
Actions |
|
Enhanced police and judicial response |
Revision of EU legislation on migrant smuggling by 2016. Establishment of list of suspicious vessel and monitoring of these vessels. Support to Member States for towing to shore boats intended to be used by smugglers or disposing of them at sea. Launching cooperation with financial institutions to step up financial investigations. Establishment of a single point of contact on migrant smuggling in each Member State. Setting up of a Contact Group of EU Agencies on migrant smuggling. Creation of a Eurojust thematic group on migrant smuggling. |
|
Improved gathering and sharing of information |
Deployment of European migration liaison officers in key EU Delegations. Evaluation, in 2106, and possible revision of EU legislation on Immigration Liaison Officers. Strengthening of JOT MARE as EU information hub on migrant smuggling. Further development of Africa Frontex Intelligence Community. Enhanced monitoring of pre-frontier area with full use of Eurosur. Stepping up Europol support for detecting Internet content used by smugglers. Including migrant smuggling data within the regular Eurostat collection of crime statistics. |
|
Enhanced prevention of smuggling and assistance to vulnerable migrants |
Information and prevention campaigns in third countries on risks of smuggling. Launch of consultation, in 2016, and impact assessment on possible revision of EU Directive 2004/81/EC on residence permits. Development of handbook on prevention on migrant smuggling by 2017. Development of guidelines for border authorities and consular services. Evaluation of the EU legal framework on SIS to explore ways to enhance effectiveness of return and reduce irregular migration. Proposals to open negotiations on readmission with main countries of origin of irregular migrants. Define targets as regards the number of inspections to be carried out every year in the economic sectors most exposed to illegal employment. |
|
Enhanced cooperation with third countries |
Launching or enhancing bilateral and regional cooperation frameworks. Funding of projects to support third countries set up strategies on migrant smuggling, step up police and judicial responses, and develop integrated border management. Setting up of EU cooperation platforms on migrant smuggling in relevant third countries and regions. Optimising the use of EU funding through joint or coordinated planning |
Source: Communication from the Commission: EU Action Plan Against Migrant Smuggling (2015–2020) (COM(2015)285 Final)