Opinions with Workers' Group members as rapporteur/co-rapporteur/rapporteur-general

The EESC supports the proposal’s objective to ensure that all forms of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children, including those enabled or facilitated by technological developments, are criminalised. It underlines the importance of having common minimum standards for the definition of criminal offences and the severity of related penalties in order to prosecute offenders effectively and to ensure the protection of victims across the EU.  The EESC calls for the international exchange of data relating to child sexual abuse and exploitation to be specifically regulated and for the possibilities for data retention to be expanded in all Member States with the development of an EU Research Centre.

The anti-smuggling package, proposed by the European Commission, comprises three elements: a proposed directive on countering migrant smuggling; reinforcing the role of Europol in combatting smuggling; and intensifying cooperation with partner countries to tackle this issue globally. The EESC adopted a favourable opinion on the package, acknowledging that combating migrant smuggling needs a new impetus and better coordination at all levels.  Although the EESC welcomes the directive, it warns that its content could seriously affect the fundamental rights of migrants, and those assisting them on humanitarian grounds.