BRUSSELS, Belgium / RankWire.AI / – Brussels has set out a six-pillar plan to tackle trafficking in human beings as the number of registered victims in the European Union keeps rising. The European Commission presented the new strategy on Friday, October 16, two days before EU Anti-Trafficking Day. More than 20,000 victims were registered in the bloc in 2023 and 2024. That marked an increase of 16.1%. Officials said many further cases remain hidden.
Traffickers continue to target people in vulnerable situations, according to the Commission. Women and girls made up 63% of registered victims, most of them exploited sexually. Children accounted for 15%. Men formed 74% of the victims trafficked for labour exploitation. Other forms of the crime include forced criminality, forced begging and forced marriage. The Commission said the EU needs to adapt its response to keep pace with the growth in cases.
Magnus Brunner, the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, said the strategy will hold traffickers accountable and disrupt their networks. He said victims will be protected and that people should not be for sale. The plan replaces the EU strategy for 2021 to 2025. It sits alongside the revised Anti-Trafficking Directive, which national governments had to write into law by July 15, 2026. The directive added forced marriage and illegal adoption to trafficking offences.
Technology and business cooperation lead the plan
The first pillar harnesses modern technology to stop trafficking at an early stage. Criminals increasingly use online services to recruit, advertise and control victims. The Commission wants online platforms, banks and payment providers to help flag suspicious activity. The second pillar deepens engagement with the private sector. A planned European coalition of companies against trafficking will work to cut exploitation risks and improve the early detection of cases.
The third pillar seeks to disrupt transnational networks linked to organised crime. Police forces will rely on international crime cooperation, intelligence-led investigations, financial tracing and the recovery of criminal assets. Joint investigation teams backed by Europol and Eurojust are set to expand. The fourth pillar tackles exploitation linked to migration. It strengthens screening, border and asylum procedures and safeguards in reception centres. The aim is to identify victims earlier on migration routes into the EU.
Parliament and Council to review strategy
The fifth pillar improves prevention, preparedness and rapid response in times of crisis. The Commission will draw up guidance on detecting trafficking risks during future emergencies. The sixth pillar improves the protection of people vulnerable to trafficking. It focuses on the rights of victims during investigations and trials. It also covers cooperation with partner countries and international organisations. Support services for victims will be strengthened as part of the same pillar.
The European Parliament and the Council will now examine the strategy. The EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator will work with national anti-trafficking coordinators to put the measures in place. The Commission described the six pillars as a coordinated and future-proof response to the crime. The plan was presented ahead of EU Anti-Trafficking Day, which the bloc marks each year on October 18. National authorities will lead efforts on the ground.