New forms of transnational organized crime - such as trafficking in human beings, human organs or illicit arms, and smuggling of migrants - together with traditional types of cross-border organised criminality, require co-ordinated action at international level.
The Council of Europe has adopted an Action Plan to reinforce the legal framework to fight transnational organised crime in line with fundamental rights, and to improve international police and judicial co-operation at a pan-European level.
Transnational organised crime presents sophisticated and multi-faceted threats that cannot be addressed through law enforcement action and criminal justice alone. The plan aims to harmonise states' actions to prevent criminals from benefiting from legal loopholes and the lack of international co-ordination.
Adopted by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, the Action Plan follows a White Paper which identifies the specific areas where action should be taken to improve the criminal response on transnational organised crime.
