European Actions Strengthening Teams Establishment Against Migrant Smuggling

ongoing

Migrant smuggling is a cross-border criminal activity that puts the lives of migrants at risk, showing disrespect for human life and dignity in the pursuit of profit. More than 90% of the irregular migrants that reach the EU make use of smugglers, either during parts or all their journey. It is estimated that smuggling networks make substantial profits from their criminal activities, ranging between EUR 4.7 – 6 billion worldwide annually, reaching 20.000 € per individual. Pakistan is gravely affected from migrant smuggling. Each year thousands of Pakistani nationals arriving in EU following the silk - eastern Mediterranean route. Facilitated by the local organised smuggling networks immigrants continue their journey to Central EU member states via the Western Balkans route. Pakistan itself is also suffering as it is the starting point of thousands of Afghan people struggling to reach illegally to Europe by manipulating the same routes and smuggling trends. EU and Pakistani authorities having signed an EU-Pakistan Agreement have stepped up their cooperation and make considerable efforts to prevent and tackle such illegal smuggling activities. EASTEAMS aims at countering and preventing migrant smuggling, disrupting criminal businesses by establishing Common Operational Partnerships (COPs) that support structured cooperation between competent law enforcement and border guard authorities, judicial authorities and relevant services of Pakistan and European destination countries (Greece, Cyprus. France, Germany), with the involvement of European and international bodies. Through the establishment of COP, Training Programmes, Development of an operational EASTEAMS app, Exercises, Dissemination and Communication, EASTEAMS targets to a) reinforce legal, policy, operational and strategic frameworks, b) exchange of information and best practices, c) mutual support for ongoing investigations, d) improvement of organisational procedures and, e) coordination with assimilated projects.