From solidarity to criminalisation: the EU Facilitators’ Package revision

Original source: PICUM

Watch the recording of the webinar here!

In 2023, PICUM’s media monitoring confirmed a concerning trend: at least 117 individuals faced criminal or administrative proceedings for acting in solidarity with migrants in the EU. Additionally, at least 76 migrants were subjected to criminalisation under counter-smuggling legislation.

The realities of criminalisation are heavily influenced by the EU’s ‘Facilitators’ Package’, a legal framework allowing member states to criminalise the facilitation of irregular entry, stay, or transit, without a mandatory ‘humanitarian’ exception.

Last year, the Commission proposed a revision of the Facilitators’ Package which fails to adequately address the risk of criminalisation of migration and solidarity, while adding new, controversial grounds for criminalisation.

At the same time, the Court of Justice of the EU is about to hold its first hearing on the ‘Kinshasa’ litigation, challenging the compatibility of the EU’s Facilitators’ Package with the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Join our webinar to hear more about:

• key findings illustrating the impact of criminalisation of migration from PICUM’s 2023 media monitoring
• the proposed revision of the Facilitators' Package, its possible impact on criminalisation of solidarity and migration, and the next steps in the legislative process
• the 'Kinsa' litigation before the CJEU and its potential implications.

Speakers:
Marta Gionco, Senior Advocacy Officer, PICUM
Francesca Cancellaro, Lawyer in the CJEU ‘Kinsa’ cases
Michele LeVoy, Director, PICUM (moderator)