Second International Conference of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling

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On 10 December, the European Commission hosted the second International Conference of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling in Brussels. The Conference brought together more than 80 delegations from EU Member States and international partners from five different continents, who account for almost two billion of the world’s citizens. Together with international organisations and digital platforms, they committed to strengthen international cooperation in tackling migrant smuggling collectively and globally in a Joint Declaration presented by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner.  

Disrupting smuggling operations 

The smuggling of migrants remains a grave concern, with criminal networks having links to other serious criminal offences, such as money laundering, corruption and trafficking in drugs. These networks generate an estimated EUR 5.5 to 7 billion EUR in annual revenue.  

The Global Alliance is a key element of the European Commission's approach to countering migrant smuggling worldwide. As stated by Commissioner Magnus Brunner, “Migrant smuggling is a global problem. Therefore, it can only be solved with a truly Global Alliance.” 

Since its establishment in 2023, the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling has achieved significant results in disrupting smuggling operations and strengthening international cooperation. In 2024, 13,500 migrant smugglers were arrested, while this year alone irregular border crossings at the EU's external borders fell by 26% compared to last year, reflecting the impact of close collaboration with countries of origin and transit. 

The Commission is also supporting law enforcement and judicial authorities in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean through operational partnerships and capacity-building projects.  In parallel, work is ongoing to advance alternatives to irregular migration by developing the EU Talent Pool platform, promoting Talent Partnerships and launching the first pilot European Legal Gateway Office in India, while also fostering partnerships to address the root causes of migration. 

Joint Declaration of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling 

At the Conference, 58 Partners endorsed a Joint Declaration reaffirming their commitment to strengthen international cooperation against migrant smuggling.  

As Commissioner Magnus Brunner explained, “[…] The Declaration sends a powerful signal to the smugglers, that their business model will no longer work. It shows that we will coordinate and work together on every aspect of this problem.”  

The Declaration sets out a joint way forward with three main pillars, each of which was addressed in a dedicated session: 

  1. Preventing migrant smuggling by strengthening national frameworks, exchanging information, and raising awareness on the risks of irregular migration; working with digital platforms to curb smugglers' increased use of digital tools; and preventing the misuse of commercial transport to facilitate migrant smuggling by air. 
  2. Making the response to migrant smuggling more effective by reinforcing and enhancing operational cooperation along migratory routes; and by stepping up financial investigations with the “Follow the Money” approach to trace, seize and confiscate illicit flows of money and smuggling proceeds.  

  3. Developing alternatives to irregular migration, both in the countries of origin and of destination, by promoting safe and regular mobility pathways through tools like the EU's new Talent Pool and Talent Partnerships and addressing the root causes of migration in countries of origin and transit. 

The Global Alliance and its Joint Declaration will remain open for endorsement by additional partners and international organisations committed to strengthening collective efforts to counter migrant smuggling worldwide. 

  1. "The Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling reinforces its commitments in its second Conference" - The European Commission
  2. "Commission hosts Second International Conference of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling" - The European Commission
  3. "Keynote speech by President von der Leyen at the second Conference of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling" - The European Commission
  4. "Commission launches a Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling and proposes a strengthened EU legal framework" - The European Commission

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