On 22 December 2025, Regulation (EU) 2025/2611 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/794 as regards the strengthening of Europol’s support and enhancing police cooperation, for preventing and combating migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, was published in the Official Journal of the EU (OJ L, 2025/2611).

After three years of negotiations, the legislation to strengthen Europol’s mandate with regard to preventing, detecting, and investigating migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings (THB) was finalized and entered into force on 11 January 2026. For the provisional agreement between the Council and the European Parliament, →eucrim 3/2025, 197-198. For the Commission proposal as part of the legislative package to counter migrant smuggling, →eucrim 3/2023, 257-258.

Key features of the amending Regulation are:

• 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;
• 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;
• Member States may request Europol deployment on their territories for operational support, under certain conditions and in accordance with their national laws;
• Strengthening of the European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling, which will become a permanent part of Europol’s structure.

As an EU Regulation, the Regulation is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all EU Member States.