Florian Trauner, vice dean for research at the Brussels School of Governance and an expert on migration and the EU, told The National: “The reasons why people may revert to a smuggler remain and cannot be simply removed with a law enforcement approach.”
He said there were very few opportunities for certain categories of migrants, notably those keen to apply for asylum in the EU, to enter the bloc legally. New border measures including fences have made it difficult to cross the EU’s external borders, meaning boats are the only way to get into the continent for people affected by conflict and instability in their homelands. “This mixture of factors suggests there will continue to be a market for smugglers,” Dr Trauner said. He said the EU had long been trying to work with third countries on counter-smuggling, but the new alliance reflected a “renewed political emphasis” on tackling illegal migration. “The current mood in Europe is certainly one towards more restrictions," he said. “Political parties who call for more migration control are gaining in several countries. This mood is also reflected in the current negotiations on the new EU asylum law, which will bring new restrictions.”
