The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy have proposed a new horizontal EU sanctions regime targeting migrant smuggling, trafficking in human beings and other serious forms of organised crime. The proposed framework would allow the European Union to impose restrictive measures on individuals and entities involved in such activities originating outside the EU where they pose a serious threat to the Union's values, the security of the EU and its Member States, or to international security. The proposals will now be examined by the Council.

Coastal rescue services along the Belgian North Sea are being briefed on how to respond to increased small boat activity linked to attempted irregular crossings towards the United Kingdom. The sessions aim to strengthen awareness and improve coordination with relevant authorities ahead of the start of the beach surveillance season.

Belgian Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt is carrying out a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The visit takes place in the context of a marked increase in asylum applications from Congolese nationals in Belgium in recent years. The mission aims to discourage unfounded asylum applications, address the misuse of visa procedures, counter document fraud and misleading messages from smugglers, and strengthen cooperation on return and the fight against irregular migration. 

This conference will address the pressing issue of human trafficking affecting young people in Belgium, including sexual exploitation, forced criminality, and economic exploitation. It will bring together international experts, as well as Minister Yves Coppieters, responsible for Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities, to discuss the current situation, share experiences, and highlight effective measures to protect youth. The Samilia Prize will be presented later in the evening.

The TRAQ study day will take a close look at the status of victims of smuggling in human beings under aggravating circumstances in Belgium. Introduced in 2006, this residence status for victims who cooperate with authorities has seen limited use and has never been thoroughly analysed. Within the framework of « TRAQ » (Trafic Analyses Qualitatives), Myria and the National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology (INCC) conducted a study on its implementation. The findings will be shared to stimulate discussion and reflection among experts and stakeholders.

Belgian judicial and law enforcement authorities contributed to an operation targeting a criminal network supplying small boats for migrant crossings. Four high-level suspects were arrested in Germany and are expected to be extradited to Belgium for prosecution in Bruges. Searches in Germany and Belgium resulted in the seizure of boats, engines, life jackets, cash, and other equipment used in the smuggling activities.

On 24 March 2026, Europol has launched the European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling (ECAMS) in The Hague. The centre is intended to strengthen the EU’s response to migrant smuggling networks. It focuses on intelligence-led, data-driven and financial investigations. The initiative builds on over a decade of operational work, including the European Migrant Smuggling Centre established in 2016, which supported Member States through arrests, network dismantling and joint operations.

Authorities in Belgium have reported a notable increase in migrant smuggling attempts along the country’s North Sea coast in recent weeks, prompting enhanced law enforcement action and efforts to strengthen international cooperation. Federal and local police forces have stepped up patrols and arrests as part of a broader response to the phenomenon, while Belgium and the United Kingdom are exploring closer collaboration to address the cross-border dimension.

Myria has released its first comprehensive mapping of quantitative data on minor victims of human trafficking and aggravated forms of smuggling in Belgium. The report aims to provide a clearer statistical basis for understanding the situation of minors at risk, while also highlighting structural gaps in current data collection and sharing practices.

Child Focus and Payoke have signed a collaboration protocol to better detect, support, and protect minors who are victims of sexual exploitation. The agreement establishes fixed contact points, faster coordination for urgent cases, and tailored referrals, aiming to ensure that victims receive appropriate assistance without having to repeat their story.

The European Commission has launched a new EU-wide awareness campaign to address human trafficking. Under the slogan “End human trafficking. Break the invisible chain”, the initiative seeks to make this often hidden crime more visible to the public. Around 10.000 victims are identified each year across the European Union, while many more remain undetected. The campaign calls on citizens to recognise the signs of exploitation, report concerns and help support victims.

Social networks and online classified sites are being used by traffickers to market, recruit, sell their services. This conference looks into this issue and its impact in more depth.

Today the Commission is reporting on progress in the fight against trafficking in human beings. The report presents trends, progress and challenges in this field. Efforts must be stepped up to effectively fight this phenomenon.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation to gather views on the functioning of the existing legislation aiming at preventing and countering migrant smuggling and on what could be done to further strengthen it.

Today, key Belgian stakeholders in the fight against migrant smuggling discussed inter alia the use of social media in migrant smuggling at a round-table organized by the Belgian Contact Point of the EMN.

The Council conclusions on migrant smuggling were adopted by the Council at its 3455th meeting held on 10-11 March 2016

The Justice and Home Affairs Council of 25/02/2016 discussed the current migratory situation, including the monitoring of implementation of the measures already agreed at recent meetings of the European Council and Justice and Home Affairs Council.