Narco-trafficking in Europe’s waters: protecting our borders and supporting our law enforcement officers

✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 18 Sept 2026

Parliament adopted a resolution on narco-trafficking in Europe's waters, condemning attacks and deaths linked to drug trafficking and calling for better protection of frontline law enforcement.¶¶ It asks for stronger maritime surveillance, coordinated European assets in Atlantic trafficking zones and more resources for the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics.¶¶ It calls for action against corruption, money laundering and illicit financial flows, and for stronger seizure and confiscation of criminal assets.¶ It backs a balanced approach combining public health, prevention, treatment, harm reduction and police and judicial cooperation, with sustained investment in prevention and community resilience.¶¶ It calls for stronger judicial and operational cooperation with third countries, including West African and Latin American countries, and for protection frameworks for witnesses and exploited individuals.¶¶

Key points

Parliament condemns attacks and regrets the loss of lives of victims of drug trafficking in the EU, expressing condolences to their families.¶
It says police and Guardia Civil officers need vessels, equipment, training, staff and legal protection, and calls on member states to treat their work as high-risk.¶
It urges the Commission and member states to reinforce law enforcement and judicial capabilities with more funding and to strengthen cooperation between customs, law enforcement, judicial and administrative authorities.¶
It asks the Commission to complete its assessment of whether the existing EU legal framework on illicit drugs is fit for purpose and to propose proportionate responses.¶¶
It takes note of the proposed EU sanctions regime on serious organised crime, including asset freezes, funding prohibitions and travel bans.¶
It calls for EU-level dialogue on maritime pursuits and for coordinated maritime capabilities and European assets in key Atlantic trafficking zones.¶¶
It says the outermost regions are especially exposed and calls for their challenges to be taken into account in the EU response.¶
It stresses that the fight must comply with EU law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, including data protection and privacy rules.¶
It urges Frontex, EMSA, Eurojust and Europol to strengthen joint activities and cooperation with MAOC-N, and calls for coherence between EMPACT and other EU security policies.¶
It calls for resources for the EU ports strategy, the EU drugs strategy and the action plan against drug trafficking 2026–2030, for port worker training and protection, and for CEPOL training programmes.¶
It calls for risk-based tracking and inspection of vessels, support for dockers and fishers facing threats, and safe and proportionate interdictions.¶¶
It calls for cooperation with third countries including China on precursor chemicals, for stronger Europol and Eurojust capacity, and for protection frameworks for witnesses and exploited individuals.¶¶

Who is affected

Police, border and customs officers: their work should be recognised and classified as high-risk, with equipment, training and legal protection.¶
Port workers, dockers and fishers: training, prevention and protection measures, and support against threats and blackmail.¶¶
EU agencies Frontex, EMSA, Eurojust, Europol, EUDA and CEPOL: asked to strengthen joint activities, intelligence-sharing and training.¶¶¶
Member states: called to strengthen asset seizure, witness protection and frameworks for cooperating persons.¶¶
Third countries, including West African and Latin American countries and China: cooperation on trafficking routes, capacity-building and precursor chemicals.¶¶

Figures and deadlines

EU action plan against drug trafficking 2026-2030¶¶
EMPACT cycle 2026-2029¶
European Coalition against Drugs brings together more than 40 countries¶
Council's Horizontal Working Party on Drugs established in 1997¶
UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances adopted on 20 December 1988¶
UN Convention against Corruption adopted on 31 October 2003¶
Commission communication of 1 April 2025 on ProtectEU (COM(2025)0148)¶
Joint Declaration of the Fourth CELAC-EU Summit adopted in Santa Marta on 9 November 2025¶

Legal basis: Treaty on European Union and Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular their provisions on the area of freedom, security and justice¶

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text and ¶ links to the paragraph it rests on. Check the text itself before relying on it.