In 2025, EU lawmakers are set to vote on the new “facilitation directive”, which aims to tackle migrant smuggling in the bloc. Activist groups say the current draft fails to exempt those who seek to help migrants, by providing food and shelter for example, from criminal sanctions.
Activists say the crackdown on smuggling has reduced the supply of boats as well as opportunities to launch, leading smugglers to load more migrants onto flimsy vessels, increasing the risk of people being crushed or drowning.
They want European governments to expand safe and legal pathways to international protection.