5 November 2024, Brussels - The increasing globalization, industrialization, and economic interconnectedness of recent decades require the creation of integrated mobility systems and trade connections that are sustainable, resilient, and secure.
These projects need to rely on networks of hard and soft infrastructure optimizing transport, facilitating trade, and securing supply chains. The European Union (EU) aims to continue this trend by developing new trade agreements and connectivity pathways with key countries and regions. This includes establishing Strategic Corridors through Global Gateway investments, to diversify and facilitate trade routes, as well as reducing dependencies.
However, with organized crime and illicit trafficking on the rise in all parts of the world, it is clear that increased trade and investment connectivity can only provide new opportunities for illegal activities and bring threats and insecurity closer to the EU, if the process does not adopt a comprehensive approach. The same conclusion can be reached for initiatives aimed at improving intra-regional trade and investment.
In fact, trade corridors are vulnerable to attacks and may not significantly reduce dependencies. Enhanced transport and trade routes can lead to unintended security consequences, e.g. irregular migration, cross-border crime, and terrorism. Border forces face challenges in balancing trade facilitation and countering illicit activities. Corruption is also a key enabler of illicit trafficking and affects competition for contracts.
Against this backdrop, the European Commission President’s 2024-2029 Political Guidelines emphasize de-risking infrastructure investment, promoting integrated border management, and creating long-term mutually beneficial partnerships.
To better understand all the implications of increased connectivity, address current challenges, share best practices, and explore potential partnerships, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized a dedicated meeting with various European Commission services in Brussels.
Approximately 50 participants attended this hybrid event, including experts from the Directorate-Generals for International Partnerships, Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Mobility and Transport, Taxation and Customs Union, Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, the Foreign Policy Instrument, as well as representatives from UNODC and the CMA CGM group.
