In December 2021, the CDPC decided to launch Action n°1 of the Action Plan on Fostering International Co-operation and Investigative Strategies in Fighting the Smuggling of Migrants, entitled "Addressing Investigative, Prosecutorial and Judicial Challenges in Migrant Smuggling-related cases". This Action consists of the setting-up of a Council of Europe Network of Prosecutors on Migrant Smuggling to facilitate the transnational exchange of information and good-practices, as well as the gathering of evidence on relevant cases.

 

During their 1st meeting, held in May 2022, members have underlined that setting-up the Network was presenting a major added-value for their work, notably through allowing quicker and more flexible bilateral co-operation on relevant cases and, most importantly, expanding the scope of exchanges to all Council of Europe jurisdictions, especially to non-EU members.

The 2nd meeting of the Network, held in April 2023, provided an opportunity for several members to present their respective national frameworks in the field of migrant smuggling, as well as to extend the scope of exchanges to other regional/international bodies active in this field and to third states, where most migratory flows and related criminal activities originate. Members of the Network also discussed its future activities, notably in view of completing remaining Actions of the Action Plan. 

The Network is currently composed of 26 members, including 9 representatives of non-EU countries.

2nd meeting (3-4 April 2023)

 1st meeting (10-11 May 2022)

Restricted website of the Network

During their 1st meeting, members of the Network agreed on the creation of a restricted website, accessible only to them and featuring a full list of their contact details, tools for the rapid sharing of information and documents, and a live discussion forum.