Combating Migrant Smuggling by Sea: Analysis of EU Action Plan Against Migrant Smuggling and Standards of Migrant Smuggling Protocol

Abstract

Migrant smuggling is one of the main issues challenging national security systems. This issue also threatens common international security. Migrant smuggling toward European countries is mainly organized through maritime routes. Therefore, to treat this issue in a more focused way, the purpose of this paper is to address the issue of migrant smuggling standards and regulations that are promoted by the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants, with a special emphasis on migrant smuggling by sea. In addition, this paper aims to address the EU policy regarding the prevention and combating of migrant smuggling by sea. From the data obtained from this study, we can understand that the issue of preventing and combating migrant smuggling by sea is addressed by some standards of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants, which has been ratified by 152 of the UN Member States and serves as an important basis to facilitate the prevention and combating of migrant smuggling by sea. Furthermore, the European Union has addressed the issue of migrant smuggling by sea, and based on the findings so far, this issue has become an important part of the EU Security Union Strategy, the EU action plan against migrant smuggling, and several other important documents in the EU. The investigation and prosecution of this form of transnational organized crime requires a coordinated approach between the authorities of the countries whose laws are violated by this form of criminality.