The use of commercial means of transport, mainly by air, to facilitate irregular migration to the EU has progressively emerged as a new modus operandi of smuggling networks. Criminal networks are increasingly taking advantage of commercial flights between third countries under various pretexts, such as visa-free policy regimes or apparent labour migration opportunities, to bring migrants to countries close to or bordering the EU, from where the migrants then seek to irregularly enter the EU.

In this context, the Commission is presenting a toolbox that brings together a full range of operational and diplomatic measures and legal instruments that aim at filling the existing gaps and providing a framework that would allow the EU to respond efficiently and in a targeted way to cases in which transport operators are, advertently or inadvertently, concerned with the facilitation of irregular migration to the EU, with a particular focus on air transport.

When information received from the authorities of the Member States or from relevant EU Agencies (Europol, Frontex), including in the framework of the Blueprint Network, on emerging irregular migration routes and modi operandi of smugglers clearly indicates the use of services provided by transport operators, the Commission services, on a case-by-case basis and in cooperation with the European External Action Service, will identify the most appropriate of the measures and instruments of the Toolbox to address the challenges linked to the specific situation.

For additional information, please read the press release from the Commission and the toolbox below.