The smuggling of migrants is a rapidly evolving global crime that endangers human life, exploits vulnerability and cannot be effectively addressed by any State acting alone.

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted the Terms of Reference establishing the Committee of Experts on combatting the smuggling of migrants (PC-TM), a subordinate body of the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC). Countering migrant smuggling was identified as a priority in the Reykjavík Declaration adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe at their 4th Summit in May 2023, in which they committed to intensifying international cooperation while protecting victims and respecting the human rights of migrants and refugees.

In line with this political mandate, participants in the Council of Europe Informal Ministerial Conference on 10 December 2025 reaffirmed their commitment to addressing migrant smuggling and expressed their support for the preparation of a new Recommendation on deterring and fighting the smuggling of migrants, with full respect for their human rights.