The European Union’s executive branch is drafting sanctions targeting migrant smugglers and their funding, part of the bloc’s broader efforts to restrict illegal border crossings.
“We need stronger legal tools to dismantle this criminal business,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday at a global migration conference in Brussels. “This is why Europe is developing a stringent new sanctions regime against smugglers. This is all in coordination with our G-7 partners.”
The sanctions could also include travel bans, she said, “so that we can restrict their movements.” She added: “Our goal is simple. We want to bankrupt their businesses through all means available.”
The EU also approved tighter migration rules earlier this week, giving capitals more power to remove people without authorization to live and work in the bloc.