Union européenne

Général : 13 800 personnes ont été secourues en Méditerranée centrale la semaine dernière, selon l’agence européenne de gestion des frontières extérieures Frontex. Alors que l’Europe affronte la plus grave crise migratoire depuis la Seconde Guerre mondiale, les députés de la commission des libertés civiles ont adopté lundi plusieurs rapports clés visant à améliorer la gestion des frontières extérieures et la coopération avec les pays tiers.

Source : © Union européenne, 2016 - PE

In 2013 and 2014, 15,846 people fall victim to the trafficking of human beings in the EU. This data belongs to the European Commission report on trafficking in human beings. In fact, the Commission was strongly invited to evaluate the current EU Strategy towards the eradication of trafficking in human beings as required by the anti-trafficking Directive and to introduce a new one that follows a human-rights-based approach, including a clear gender dimension (see article on Human trafficking: a new European impetus to the fight against it). Thus, this is the first Commission report since the adoption of the anti-trafficking Directive (2011/36/EU). As defined by Recital 27 and Article 19 of this Directive, the report is composed of three main parts: trends in trafficking in human beings, results of specific anti-trafficking actions, and statistics provided by Member States. The report also examines action taken by the Commission and other European stakeholders under the EU strategy for the period 2012-2016. This work was also conceived for helping the Commission to develop a post-2016 strategy on trafficking in human beings.

The report was presented on Thursday 19 May by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS and the EU Anti-trafficking Coordinator, Myria VASSILIADOU. These statistics were collected for the period 2013-2014 from different sources, including information provided by National Rapporteurs on equivalent mechanisms (“NREMs”), civil society organisations participating in the EU Civil Society Platform against trafficking in human beings and in the EU Civil Society e-Platfom and, EU agencies, regional and international organisations. However, it is important to underline that these data are based on the number of registered victims in EU Member States. This means that they could not reflect the real situation where the potential number of victims was “likely to be substantially higher that those registered by national authorities”.

After a brief presentation of the context of the trafficking in human beings, the second part of the report focuses on trends and challenges in addressing trafficking in human being in the EU. This section presents a worrying trend: 2500 children are affected by human trafficking out of the 15,846 victims. If the number of children has dramatically increased, the most widespread form of trafficking remains for the purpose of sexual exploitation (67%), followed by labour exploitation (21%) and other forms of exploitation. According to this report, 12% of the total numbers of victims are trafficked in other forms such as for the purpose of forced begging, criminal activity, forced and sham marriage, organ removal, sell of new-born babies and adoption of young children.

The Commission also underlines that more than three quarters of registered victims were women (76%) and it highlights that there has been a growing presence of disabled and Roma people among victims. The most part of registered victims in 2013-2014 came from the European Union, especially from Romania, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Hungary and Poland while at the international level, the top five non-EU countries of citizenship were Nigeria, China, Albania, Vietnam and Morocco.

Trafficking in human beings is usually linked to organised crime. In fact, in its second section, the report stresses the links between trade in human being and other forms of crime, such as terrorism and criminal networks of smugglers that exploit the most vulnerable in the context of the “current migration crisis”. “The internet and new technologies enable organised crime groups to access a large pool of potential victims, hide their activities and carry out a wide range of criminal acts in a short period of time and on much larger scale than ever before”, reported the Commission. In fact, many victims of sexual and labour exploitation are recruited online.

In this context, the Commission produced a set of recommendations on addressing the challenge of human trafficking. Firstly, Member States should continue to collect data and improve their data collection system on trafficking in human beings to better monitor the phenomenon. They also should allocate anti-trafficking resources proportionately to the trends in collaboration with other actors that work in the same field. Moreover, as data on trafficking for sexual exploitation has not decreased, “Member States should continue and even intensify efforts to combat” it. Concerning victims of trafficking for labour exploitation, the Commission asks EU countries to help and properly identify them.

As regard to the worrying and increasing trend on child trafficking, the Commission calls for more concerted and coordinated efforts to prevent and address child trafficking, reducing the vulnerability of at-risk children, supporting child victims and ensuring child protection at all level. Furthermore, in the context of migration and asylum, “coordination should be ensured on the ground in the framework of the -hotspots approach- between all different actors” that operate with migrants in order to provide appropriate levels of protection and care to victims of human trafficking. As for online recruitment, the Commission underlines the need for measures to prevent and address the use of new technologies as a tool for recruiting victims of trafficking in human beings.

Moreover, Member States are called to step up efforts to investigate the crime, prosecute perpetrators and identify potential victims. The third part of the report, focusing on results of action to address trafficking in human beings, underlines that EU countries encounter considerable difficulties in measuring the results and impact of their anti-trafficking actions. This section mainly focuses on the progress made on the implementation of “the 3 Ps” against human trafficking: prosecution, protection and prevention.

Concerning “the first P”, one of the key priorities of the EU legal and policy framework is increasing the number of investigation and prosecutions on trafficking in human beings. In fact, as reported by Member States, the level of prosecution and conviction remains low as they do no use enough effective investigate tools. Moreover, an excessive burden is placed on victims before and during criminal proceeding, where they may be subject to intimidation and secondary victimisation as they are not well welcomed and supported in reception facilities. On the other side, joint investigations and an increasing cross-EU cooperation seem to be yielding positive results in the field of persecution.

In this framework, the Commission recommends Member States “to increase the number of investigations and prosecutions, and to reduce the burden placed on victims and their testimonies during proceedings for evidence gathering”. To this end, investigators, prosecutors and judges need a specific training and financial investigations, as recommended by the Financial Task Force, have to be systematically used. Moreover, EU countries should dedicate sufficient financial and human resources to properly address this crime.

As for the implementation of “the second P”, focusing on identification, protection and assistance of victims of human trafficking, a more concrete and efficient Member States’ action is still necessary. The referral rate of identified victims remains low. Thus, many victims of human trafficking are not identified and so they cannot enjoy their rights. “Gender and age-specific assistance are still inadequate”, highlights the Commission report, as shelters and accommodation are not always equipped to cater for victims’ needs. Concerning child victims, even if Member States report on child-sensitive measures, the number of identified children remains low and measures for finding durable solutions inadequate.

The Commission report underlines that “victims must be considered primarily as rights holders, and they must be able to understand and exercise their rights.” Thus, all appropriate measures should be taken at national level to ensure the identification, assistance, protection and reintegration of victims of trafficking, setting up a national Referral Mechanism to coordinate the actors involved in this action. Such mechanism should be monitored and evaluated regularly. Transnational cooperation, including transnational referral mechanism, should be promoted to help victims who are trafficked outside their country of origin. For child victims, child protection should be ensured, implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Commission also highlights that the Schengen Information System could be used to create a missing children alert ensuring the early identification of child victims.

Finally, concerning “the third P” on prevention, Member States reported extensive action on prevention measures (in line with Article 18 of the anti-trafficking Directive). In fact, as recalled by the Commission report, “eradication of trafficking in human beings can only be achieved if the crime is prevented from happening in the first place by using all available tools at EU and national level.” This first means that those who profit from the crime and exploit the victims should be brought to justice. Detection of cases of trafficking in human beings has increased after a training of the frontline staff. However, information reported also addresses the ad-hoc nature of training activities, the lack of specialised training and a gender-specific and child-centred approach. Moreover, EU countries stress the pivotal role played by the private sector in preventing trafficking in human beings.

In this context, the Commission expresses the need for strong safeguards ensuring that the victims are not penalised in the place of those who exploit them. To this effect, it is fundamental to take some measures to ensure the reduction of demand that fosters all forms of exploitation. The Commission also underlines the limited resources available for anti-trafficking measures and victims’ prevention and assistance at national level. Thus, the report calls on sufficient budgetary allocation to effectively address human trafficking in cooperation with civil society, such as NGOs. Moreover, Member States should use EU funds and implement cost-effective national measures to achieve tangible results.

In conclusion, according to the Commission, the adoption of the anti-trafficking Directive and its implementation at national level has helped to raise awareness on the scale of the phenomenon of human trafficking across the EU, and the need to address it with the help of tools relating to prevention, protection and prosecution. The Commission also expressed its will to “continue working on a coordinated and consistent response to trafficking in human beings.” The report closes with the Commission promise of publishing the two further reports required under article 23 of the anti-trafficking Directive on compliance and criminalisation, together with a post-2016 Strategy on trafficking in human beings.

Hoping that this time delays will be avoided, this concrete action of the Commission will show a strong European commitment against trafficking in human beings. In the meanwhile, on the same day of the publication of the Commission report, the EU announced an European contribution to fight against gendered-based violence including human trafficking. In fact, on 19 May, in Copenhagen, took place the “Women Deliver” Conference, one of the world’s largest events on women and girls’ rights, health and well-being. On this occasion, Commissioner Neven MIMICA announced €19 million euro support to gender-driven international projects. This maybe represents just a little drop in the sea of human trafficking, but step by step, implementation after implementation, action after action, a concrete answer to the fight against human trafficking will be provided. Because there is a need for answers and victims cannot way anymore.

Adele Cornaglia

For further information:

• Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/organized-crime-and-human-trafficking/trafficking-in-human-beings/docs/commission_report_on_the_progress_made_in_the_fight_against_trafficking_in_human_beings_2016_en.pdf
• European Commission- Press Release- EU announces €19 million new support for women and girls’ empowerment at “Women Deliver” Conference: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-1807_en.htm
• EU-Logos Athéna, Human trafficking : a new European impetus to the fight against it : https://europe-liberte-securite-justice.org/2016/05/24/human-trafficking-a-new-european-impetus-to-the-fight-against-it/
• 2011/36/EU Directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:101:0001:0011:EN:PDF

 

Classé dans:COOPERATION JUDICIAIRE ET POLICIERE, Dignité humaine, DROITS FONDAMENTAUX, Lutte contre la criminalité organisée

General : The European Parliament Conference of Presidents, uniting the EP president and political group leaders, agreed on Thursday 2 June on a mandate for an inquiry committee to look into the so-called Panama Papers, which revealed detailed information on off-shore companies and their ultimate beneficiaries.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Les députés allemands viennent d'adopter une résolution reconnaissant le génocide arménien. Un vote au Bundestag précédé des encouragements d'Erevan et des avertissements d’Ankara. Hier, mercredi 1er juin, le président Recep Tayyip Erdogan avait téléphoné à Angela Merkel pour lui faire part de ses « inquiétudes » et dénoncer un « piège ».

En conflit ouvert avec la Pologne depuis le retour des ultra-conservateurs au pouvoir fin 2015, la Commission européenne a décidé, hier, d'accroître la pression. L'institution de Bruxelles a ainsi émis une "opinion" sur l'état de droit dans le pays, soit une étape supplémentaire en vue de la possible activation de l'article 7 du traité sur l'Union européenne, qui exposerait la Pologne à des sanctions. Une extrémité que la majorité de la presse française juge toutefois encore improbable.

Moreda-Riviere Trefilerías / Commission
Concurrence
Le Tribunal rejette les recours des quatre sociétés espagnoles ayant participé à l’entente sur le marché européen de l’acier de précontrainte

Moreda-Riviere Trefilerías / Commission
Concurrence
Le Tribunal rejette les recours des quatre sociétés espagnoles ayant participé à l’entente sur le marché européen de l’acier de précontrainte

Bogendorff von Wolffersdorff
Principes du droit communautaire
Un nom contenant plusieurs éléments nobiliaires et librement choisi par un Allemand dans un autre État membre dont il possède également la nationalité ne doit pas nécessairement être reconnu en Allemagne

Bogendorff von Wolffersdorff
Principes du droit communautaire
Un nom contenant plusieurs éléments nobiliaires et librement choisi par un Allemand dans un autre État membre dont il possède également la nationalité ne doit pas nécessairement être reconnu en Allemagne

Vervloet e.a.
Liberté d'établissement
L’avocat général Kokott estime que la garantie accordée par la Belgique aux sociétés coopératives financières ARCO enfreint le droit de l’Union

Vervloet e.a.
Liberté d'établissement
L’avocat général Kokott estime que la garantie accordée par la Belgique aux sociétés coopératives financières ARCO enfreint le droit de l’Union

Chaque semaine, l'agenda européen liste les principaux événements politiques à venir. A retenir pour la semaine du 6 au 12 juin : le vote des Etats sur l'autorisation du glyphosate (Roundup), la loi sur la protection des lanceurs d'alerte et le début de l'Euro 2016.

A Moscou, l'opposition tente de s'organiser pour les élections législatives de septembre 2016. Le mouvement Russie ouverte dirigée par l'opposant et milliardaire en exil, Mikhaïl Khodorkovski, a présenté ses 24 candidats, hier, mercredi 1er juin.

Depuis l'arrivée au pouvoir, en octobre 2015, du parti de droite eurosceptique Droit et Justice et la réforme du tribunal constitutionnel, l'opposition évoque des atteintes au travail des magistrats. L'Union européenne (UE) craint pour l'indépendance de la justice. Un dialogue a été amorcé depuis quelques semaines entre les autorités polonaises et l'exécutif européen. Mais ce mercredi, la Commission est allée plus loin en lançant un avertissement.

La chambre basse du Parlement allemand doit se prononcer ce jeudi 2 juin sur une résolution reconnaissant le génocide arménien en Turquie. Ankara nie catégoriquement son existence et jusqu'au dernier moment, les autorités turques ont essayé de faire pression sur Berlin pour empêcher ce vote.

The Korean Workers’ Party (KWP) held its Seventh Congress, the first since 1980, from 6 to 9 May 2016. In theory, the Congress is the highest deliberative body of the only governing party of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Congress yielded relatively modest results, with no real breakthrough, apart from establishing the 'defensive' nuclear deterrence concept. Kim Jong-un’s position as North Korea's supreme leader was fully formalised and now seems to be stronger than ever. The Party is likely to gain further power at the expense of the military. Nuclear deterrence is now firmly enshrined in the Party's statutes as well as the country’s constitution. Pyongyang has made clear that no nuclear deal is possible unless the US and its allies accept North Korea as a 'nuclear state'. Despite its propaganda announcements, North Korea is not ready to modernise its sclerotic economy. While some cautious developments cannot be ruled out, the regime's open criticism of the Chinese economic model suggest that any reforms would be limited and very probably inconclusive.
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Le plus long tunnel ferroviaire au monde a été inauguré ce mercredi 1er juin 2016. Le Saint-Gothard, dans les Alpes suisses, fait 57 kilomètres de long, soit sept de plus que le tunnel sous la Manche. Angela Merkel, François Hollande et Mateo Renzi, parmi d'autres dirigeants européens, font partie des premiers voyageurs. Ce nouveau tunnel doit permettre aux marchandises et aux voyageurs de circuler plus rapidement au sein de l'Europe.

Le 4e paquet ferroviaire, présenté par la Commission européenne en janvier 2013, vise à améliorer la compétitivité et la qualité des services ferroviaires, en supprimant les coûts administratifs, en introduisant une concurrence accrue dans le secteur des services de passagers, et en garantissant des conditions équitables pour les opérateurs.

Source : © Union européenne, 2016 - PE

La nouvelle législation européenne sur la protection des données vise à créer un ensemble de règles uniformes à travers l'UE adaptées à l'ère numérique, à améliorer la sécurité juridique et à renforcer la confiance des citoyens et entreprises dans le marché unique du numérique. Un consentement clair et positif au traitement des données, le droit à l'oubli et de lourdes amendes pour les entreprises enfreignant les règles sont quelques-unes des nouvelles fonctionnalités.

Source : © Union européenne, 2016 - PE

Les négociations sur un accord sur le commerce des services (ACS ou TiSA pour l'acronyme anglais), avec des pays représentant 70% du commerce mondial des services, devraient fournir des règles internationales et plus de possibilités pour les entreprises de l'UE de prester des services tels que les transports et les télécommunications dans les pays tiers.

Source : © Union européenne, 2016 - PE