On 25 September 2025, the Danish Council Presidency and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on legislation to strengthen Europol’s mandate with regard to preventing, detecting, and investigating migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings (THB).

The proposal for a Regulation, tabled by the European Commission in 2023 (→eucrim 3/2023, 257-258), foresees stronger obligations for the national authorities of EU Member States to share relevant information on migrant smuggling and human trafficking with Europol in a timely manner. It is provided that the national authorities must also transmit such information to other EU Member States whenever it could aid in the prevention, detection, or investigation of these crimes. All exchanges must be made via SIENA, and EU Member States must ensure that their immigration liaison officers are connected to SIENA.

EU Member States may also establish operational task forces for the duration of specific criminal intelligence activities or investigations, and Europol shall facilitate and support their implementation. Furthermore, Member States may request Europol deployment on their territories for operational support, under certain conditions and in accordance with their national laws. This will enable them to make use of the analytical, operational, technical, forensic, and financial support provided by Europol to prevent and combat crimes.

Another key element of the new Regulation is the strengthening of the European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling, which will become a permanent part of Europol’s structure:

• When carrying out operational tasks, its composition will include specialised liaison officers from each Member State and permanent representatives from Eurojust and Frontex. The Centre's operational tasks will also include coordinating and supporting cross-border investigations and information exchange - analytical, technical, logistical, or financial assistance that can aid Member States in combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking. The Centre will also identify cases that may require operational task forces, Europol deployments, criminal investigation requests, or cooperation with third countries, and it shall advise the Europol Executive Director accordingly.
• The Centre's strategic tasks will focus on providing strategic analyses, threat assessments, monitoring, and reporting to inform EU-level priorities, coordination, and operational action against migrant smuggling and human trafficking. The Centre will also facilitate cooperation between Union agencies and Member States, supporting operational deployments, investigations, and the setting of annual priorities across the Union.

Lastly, additional personnel and financial resources will be allocated to implement the new tasks for Europol. The next step is for the provisional agreement to be confirmed by the Council and the European Parliament before it can be formally adopted.