"Illegal crossings have decreased by 26% this year"/ Von der Leyen: Migrant trafficking must end

2025-12-10 16:45:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

"Illegal crossings have decreased by 26% this year"/ Von der Leyen:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has delivered her speech at the opening of the second International Conference of the Global Alliance against Migrant Smuggling in Brussels. Von der Leyen said that it is necessary for Europe to decide who enters its territory and under what conditions, and not the smugglers.

The EC President stressed that the European Union has made important reforms in migration policy, noting that irregular crossings have decreased by 26% this year.

"We are fighting smugglers with all means," she said, noting that last year alone, illegal assets worth more than 12 million euros were seized, while around 13,500 migrant smugglers were arrested.

"Migrant smuggling must end ," Von der Leyen said, arguing that migrant smuggling can be defeated with political will and international cooperation.

She also stressed the need to review and strengthen European legislation, saying it needs urgent renewal. Von der Leyen added that the EU offers legal alternative migration routes, while irregular crossings will not be tolerated, adding that returns and reintegration are part of the EU's comprehensive strategy.

Migrant smuggling generates 5.5-7 billion euros a year for criminal networks linked to money laundering, corruption and drugs. The Global Alliance, created in 2023, aims to prevent illegal travel, break the chains and promote legal alternatives to migration.

More than 50 international partners today adopted a joint declaration to strengthen cooperation against migrant smuggling, based on three main lines of action:

1) Prevent smuggling through stronger national frameworks, information sharing, risk awareness, cooperation with digital platforms to limit smugglers' online activity, and measures to prevent the use of air transport for smuggling.

2) Countering through enhanced operational cooperation on migratory routes, greater support for Europol and the European Migrant Smuggling Centre, and intensifying financial investigations to identify and confiscate the proceeds of smuggling.

3) Alternative solutions to irregular migration, by promoting safe and legal pathways of mobility and addressing the root causes of migration in countries of origin and transit. /CNA