EU urges more co-operation against human trafficking

European states should share more information, train specialists and implement more policies to turn the multi-billion euro industry of human trafficking into a crime that does not pay, the European Commission said.
Humanitarian and security organisations estimate that there are almost a million victims a year of human trafficking world-wide, with between 200,000 and 500,000 people caught up in sexual and labour exploitation in Europe.
The Commission set out a series of proposals and suggestions to member states on Wednesday, saying not only is the trade in humans a rights violation but that proceeds from trafficking facilitates other criminal activity.
"Human trafficking must be addressed as a clear law enforcement priority. It has to be converted from a 'low risk - high reward' enterprise for organised crime into a 'high risk - low reward' one," it said.
"High profits from labour and sexual exploitation are often subject to money laundering and may enable traffickers to engage in other criminal activities."
The commission urged states to help victims of trafficking by incorporating faster a directive that sets out the conditions under which they are given the right of residence in the country they have been found. It also said victims who offer evidence against criminals should be protected.
Some countries have already begun doing this. Italy, lying at the centre of a smuggling route from the Balkans to Western Europe, said since 1998, it had given residence permits to over 4,000 women who were victims of trafficking.
Depressed economic conditions including high unemployment leads many to pay organised crime gangs to smuggle them into the rich EU bloc, hoping to find jobs and a better life.
But many are deceived and land up in countries they did not know they were going to, have their passports stolen, and are sold into the sex trade or used as cheap labour.
The report suggests member states provide more money and specialised personnel for authorities involved in battling the trade in humans, and closer co-operation with those agencies that monitor working conditions.
It also said states should share information regularly with Europol as well as engage in combined operations and investigations with the European cross-border police agency.