The Policy Paper supports the effective transposition and implementation of the revised EU Anti-Trafficking Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1712), in particular the requirement for EU Member States to establish National Referral Mechanisms (NRMs) and appoint national focal points. It provides an EU-wide overview of the structure and functioning of NRMs and cross-border referral arrangements, based on a comparative analysis across all 27 Member States. It identifies key developments, remaining challenges and areas for further action.

The European Commission has sent a letter of formal notice to Belgium and 19 other EU Member States for failing to communicate the complete transposition of the revised EU Anti-Trafficking Directive. The Commission sent the letters on 25 September 2026, after the deadline for Member States to transpose the Directive into national law had expired.

On 2 October 2025, EMN France brought together numerous French and European stakeholders to take stock of efforts to combat human trafficking at both national and European levels. The event provided an opportunity to identify emerging forms of trafficking and to examine international cooperation tools such as Common Operational Partnerships and EMPACT-coordinated actions.

This conference will explore three main areas: national policies and victim protection across Member States, strategies to address new forms of trafficking and dismantle criminal networks, and perspectives on international cooperation tools related to security. The event will bring together policymakers, experts, and civil society to discuss these challenges. Participants will also hear about the EU Strategy on combating trafficking in human beings.

On 14 July 2024, the revised EU Anti-Trafficking Directive enters into force with stronger rules to fight trafficking in human beings. The revised Directive introduces stricter criminalisation and provides stronger tools for public authorities to investigate and prosecute new forms of exploitation, including those that take place online, and ensure better assistance and support to victims.

On 27 May 2024, the Council of the European Union adopted a directive that inter alia adds new forms of exploitation and considers knowingly using the service provided by a trafficking victim as a criminal offense. It also strengthens prevention measures as well as the support for and assistance to victims.

On 23 April 2024, the European Parliament voted in favor of an amended Directive concerning trafficking in human beings. The new text broadens the EU’s actions against human trafficking beyond labour and sexual exploitation, and also criminalises new forms of exploitation like forced marriage, illicit adoption, and the exploitation of surrogacy at the EU level.

Today the Belgian presidency of the Council and representatives of the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the revision of the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive from 2011. The updated rules were called to better respond to developments in the forms and means of trafficking in human beings and to combat this crime more effectively.