The European Commission proposes to sanction transport companies that facilitate illegal migration

The European Commission yesterday proposed a new legal framework that allows the Twenty-seven to apply sanctions against transport operators that facilitate human trafficking to the European Union.

The Brussels proposal, in coordination with the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, seeks to ensure that the European Union has the necessary tools to combat the “instrumentalization” of migration, in full tension on the border between Poland and Belarus.

The European Union accuses Belarus of being behind the flow of migrants, which They first travel to the country from different points in the Middle East, and then they would be pushed to the border by Belarusian forces. With this new framework, the EU wants to be able to act against companies that consciously or unconsciously contribute to irregular migration.

This new framework will affect airlines, Belarusian Belavia is in the spotlight, but also to operators that promote human trafficking by land and sea.

According to the European Commission, the rstrictures would be proportionate, determined on a case-by-case basis and could include the limitation of operations in the EU, the suspension of licenses or authorizations, the suspension of refueling or maintenance rights, or the prohibition of transit or fly over the EU, make technical stops or make a stopover in Community territory.

In any case, the European Commission warned that These measures must in any case be accompanied by other forms of support, in particular humanitarian assistance for migrants.