Where the law stands, Dossier 2023/0438(COD)
Enhancing police cooperation in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings; enhancing Europol’s support to preventing and combating such crimes
Enhancing police cooperation in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, and on enhancing Europol’s support to preventing and combating such crimes and amending Regulation (EU) 2016/794
Ordinary legislative procedure (COD): Parliament and the Council decide together as equals. · First reading
A proposed EU law. Parliament and the Council must agree on the same text: Parliament adopts its position, then negotiates with the Council.
Where it stands
Published as law
Completed: published in the Official Journal on 22 December 2025 and now EU law.
- Referred to committee(done) 29 February 2024
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 20 May 2025
- Tabled for plenary(done) 12 June 2025
- Negotiations with the Council(done) Deal approved in committee 5 November 2025
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 25 November 2025
- Published as law(done) 22 December 2025
Decided in plenary
25 November 2025 · decision 2
Justice, rule of law & rights, New EU law
Enhancing police cooperation in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings; enhancing Europol’s support to preventing and combating such crimes
Passed 556 for · 74 against · 7 abstained by an overwhelming majority
AI summary:The law would make Europol a central hub for criminal information and create a European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling inside the agency, with member states setting up dedicated national structures.
What changed
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:Restructures the proposal by deleting the self-standing regulation and moving provisions into amendments to the Europol Regulation. Establishes the European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling within Europol with detailed tasks and composition. Adds provisions on national structures, information sharing via SIENA, and biometric data processing. Adds staff-related changes on contract duration and transitional arrangements, plus a budgetary assessment. Other changes are formal or wording: title, punctuation, and explanatory statement edits.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Jeroen Lenaers (EPP)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Thijs Reuten (S&D), Matthieu Valet (Patriots), Georgiana Teodorescu (ECR), Nikola Minchev (Renew), Saskia Bricmont (Greens), Ilaria Salis (The Left)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 25 Nov 2025
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation strengthens Europol's support and enhances police cooperation to prevent and combat migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, amending Regulation (EU) 2016/794.
Tabled for plenary· 12 Jun 2025
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation amends Regulation (EU) 2016/794 to strengthen Europol's support and police cooperation against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings.
Committee draft· 13 Feb 2025
AI summary:The draft report proposes amendments to the Commission proposal on enhancing police cooperation against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings. It deletes the self-standing regulation and repositions provisions as amendments to the Europol Regulation (EU) 2016/794.
Committee opinions: Opinion (BUDG), Draft opinion (BUDG)
Timeline
Newest first.
Outcome 2 steps
22 December 2025
Published in the Official Journal
The act is now EU law.
16 December 2025
Signed by the Presidents of Parliament and the Council
The last step before the act is published in the Official Journal.
Plenary stage 4 steps
25 November 2025
Plenary vote
Sitting of 25 Nov 2025 Adopted text TA10-0280/2025Report A10-0109/2025
25 November 2025
55 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
24 November 2025
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
Sitting of 24 Nov 2025 Council / Commission text C9-0431/2023Report A10-0109/2025
19 November 2025
5 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
Negotiations with the Council 4 steps
5 November 2025
Committee approved the deal reached with the Council
The provisional agreement from the trilogues goes to the whole Parliament for a vote.
25 September 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
23 June 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
18 June 2025
Plenary endorsed the mandate to negotiate with the Council
Parliament’s negotiators can now seek a compromise text with the Council (in “trilogues”).
Plenary stage 1 step
12 June 2025
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 6 steps
20 May 2025
Committee vote: report adopted
LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
23 April 2025
BUDG (Budgets) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
18 March 2025
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) proposed changes to the draft.
21 February 2025
Draft opinion from BUDG (Budgets)
An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.
13 February 2025
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
29 February 2024
Referred to the LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2023/0438(COD)