Executive Summary
In July 2026, the European Commission and the High Representative proposed a new EU (European Union) sanctions regime under which they will target those involved in international organised crime. This new proposal is significant for EU migration and security policy because it introduces a new sanctions framework to respond to organised crime. This aims to strengthen the EU’s response by disrupting the financial and operational capacity of organised criminal networks.
Key Facts & Figures
The proposed sanctions regime targets both individuals and entities involved in migrant smuggling, human trafficking and other forms of organised crime. The proposed measures include asset freezes, travel bans and restrictions on making funds or economic resources available to certain individuals. Migrant smuggling generates over 5 billion EUR annually for criminal networks. Over the past decade 26,319 migrants have been recorded missing or deceased in the Mediterranean Sea. 24,241 of these incidents were due to drowning.
Background and Context
Migrant smuggling is a type of crime that involves one group of people facilitating the illegal entry of migrants into another country. This is typically done by transnational organised criminal networks that are generally not involved in other forms of international organized crime, but who engage in cooperative partnerships with other criminal networks to enable migrant movement across borders. Migrant smuggling networks may vary from individual smugglers who help crossing short distances like a river, to large criminal operations with a hierarchical structure and more sophisticated services for migrants such as falsification of travel documents. Even though smuggling is done with consent from these migrants, they are still in extremely vulnerable situations. Migrants are often recruited through social media or within their communities who pressure them to leave. Not knowing anyone while being in a foreign country increases the risk of abuse especially when they don’t know the language or culture of the country they arrive in. Women, children, refugees, asylum seekers, people with disabilities and the elderly are the most vulnerable groups. The journey is dangerous because of the conditions that migrants endure, such as travelling in unseaworthy boats. After the route starts, migrants are often beaten, raped, blackmailed or in worst cases left to die.
The European Migrant Smuggling Centre (EMSC) has made several efforts to control this issue by supporting Member States, coordinating investigations and facilitating information sharing. However, criminal networks continue to adapt to the new challenges they face, and continue to recruit migrants through digital tools and social media. The EU considers it a priority because it threatens migrants’ lives while generating billions of euros for organised criminal networks.
Current Status and Trends
The proposed sanctions regime introduces a new framework to address migrant smuggling using the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. The proposal consists of both a Council Decision and a Council Regulation, and will be discussed by the members of the Working Party of Foreign Relations Counsellors (RELEX). However, the exact scope of the proposal is not known yet. Member States are still deciding whether this proposal should extend beyond migrant smuggling and trafficking to other forms of organised crime.
This proposal is intended to strengthen the EU’s ability to target criminal organisations directly and add another layer of power for the EU to improve sanctions. Rather than trying to punish the EU’s intention with these sanctions, it is to influence those targeted to encourage a change of behaviour. However, acquiring this enforcement power may be difficult for sanctions outside of the EU’s jurisdiction, and furthermore, criminal networks have proven capable of adapting quickly.