Proposal for a Regulation on measures against transport operators that facilitate or engage in trafficking in persons or smuggling of migrants in relation to illegal entry into the territory of the European Union

Author (Corporate)
Series Details COM (2021) 753
Publication Date 23/11/2021
Content Type ,

Summary:

Legislative initiative tabled by the European Commission on 23 November 2021, targetting transport operators that engage in or facilitate smuggling or trafficking of people in the European Union (EU).

Further information:

Transport operators usually have policies in place to avoid, to the best of their ability, becoming an accessory to trafficking and smuggling. However, in some cases such policies are not in place or not well implemented. A number of events showed how certain transport operators can contribute - and even benefit from - such criminal activities as migrants become an instrument for political destabilisation.

The proposed Regulation provides a legal framework allowing the EU to adopt measures that should be addressed against transport operators of any mode of transport that engage in the aforementioned activities. Measures would be proportionate and determined on a case-by-case basis. The type of measures could include the limitation of operations in the EU market, the suspension of licenses or authorisations, the suspension of the rights to refuel or carry out maintenance within the EU, and the prohibition to transit or fly over the EU, make technical stops or call into EU ports.

The initiative was tabled by the European Commission on 23 November 2021 and published alongside a Communication focusing on the instrumentalisation of migrants at the EU external border.

Source Link Link to Main Source https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2021:753:FIN
Related Links
Official
European Commission: Press Release, 23/11/2021: EU proposes blacklisting of transport operators involved in facilitating the smuggling or trafficking of people https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_6187
European Commission: Questions and answers on proposals to blacklist transport operators involved in facilitating the smuggling or trafficking of people (23 November 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_6221
Bloomberg, 23/11/2021: EU Targets Travel Firms Stoking Belarus Border Crisis https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-23/eu-proposes-blacklisting-travel-firms-that-help-smuggle-migrants

News
Deutsche Welle, 19/11/2021: Belarus crisis: Airlines threatened with sanctions https://p.dw.com/p/43Gbf
Politico, 23/11/2021: Commission aims to blacklist transport companies helping Belarus smuggle people into the EU https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-wants-airline-blacklist-to-counter-belarus-style-migrant-flights/
Euronews, 23/11/2021: EU to blacklist transport companies involved in human trafficking amid Belarus border crisis https://www.euronews.com/2021/11/23/eu-to-blacklist-transport-companies-involved-in-human-trafficking-amid-belarus-border-cris
Reuters, 23/11/2021: EU seeks to punish travel operators involved in human trafficking https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-europe-migrants-belarus-eu-idUKKBN2I81HC
The Guardian, 23/11/2021: EU threatens to blacklist airlines linked to border influx https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/23/eu-threatens-to-blacklist-airlines-linked-to-border-influx

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