Press Release: EU urges higher priority for fight against trafficking in women and children

Combating trafficking in women and children in Europe was at the top of the agenda of a special meeting of the European Commission's group on equal opportunities held on 7 March 2001, the eve of International Women's Day. The meeting followed an informal meeting of the Council of the European Union justice and home affairs ministers in Stockholm on 8-9 February 2001 which requested that the European Union give priority to combating trafficking in women and children.

Mr. António Vitorino, European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, called for swift action by the European Union and its Member States in stamping out the inhuman trade in human beings. In particular, he called on the Council and the European Parliament to reach early agreement on a legal instrument the Commission proposed in December 2000 to fight trafficking in human beings by eliminating legal loopholes and approximating laws across borders.