Humanitarian organizations are increasingly worried that the EU border policy, which is driving refugees into the hands of traffickers, is leading a rising number of refugees to traffickers.
One major international NGO says that as European border controls become more stringent, young migrants have fewer opportunities for legal entry and, as a result, are being left in unsafe places.
The published report this week states that due to the closure of legal routes, traffickers and smuggling networks have become the only option for many young refugees to get out of the conflict zones and to Europe.
The NGO cautions that the present method is worsening the crisis and there is a risk of more disappearances, exploitation, and deaths in the regions of transit.
This report concentrates on the areas where border restrictions are the most severe, such as the parts of the central Mediterranean route and the Balkan corridor.
The testimonies of the investigators show that with the change of policy it is no longer possible to use safer crossings and thus young people are being driven to the most dangerous alternatives.
They contend that the trend is an example of how strict border systems can have unintended consequences for the safety of those trying to cross.
EU Border Policy Driving Refugees Into Traffickers’ Networks
The NGO discovered that the number of children under the age of 18 who are trying to cross the border in an illegal way has gone up after the introduction of stricter border controls.
A significant portion of these children is traveling without any parents or guardians. The young refugees, in most cases, are forced to depend on smugglers who operate in unsafe vessels, use unregistered routes for transport, or take them through the deserted areas of nature.
In a number of instances, the report references that traffickers have exploited the lack of sufficient control in border areas.
Young refugees who are not able to cross the border legally may be subjected to forced labor, sexual exploitation, or being in a long-term debt relationship with smuggling groups. The NGO stated that the current trend is a direct indication of a causal connection between stricter border rules and the rise of criminal networks.
Officials in Brussels claim that the EU border policy is still committed to financing programs that provide humanitarian aid and safe migration routes. They maintain that border protection is needed to avoid illegal entry and ensure the security of member states. UNICEF
However, the NGO insists that stronger walls and surveillance systems alone do not address the root causes that drive young people to flee. They say the EU border policy must expand safe entry channels and invest in long-term support for countries that host large refugee populations.
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Why EU Border Policy Driving Refugees Raises Safety Concerns
Researchers say the risks facing young refugees increase when safe routes are blocked. Without legal pathways, minors may wait in informal camps with limited food, no welfare support, and little protection from criminal groups. These camps can become recruitment grounds for traffickers.
The report highlights several hotspots across North Africa and Southeast Europe where young refugees have disappeared after contact with smugglers.
Humanitarian groups working in these areas say they see the same pattern: growing desperation, shrinking legal options, and rising trafficking.
Some EU leaders argue that improved border surveillance will reduce deaths. But the NGO says the evidence suggests the opposite. When borders tighten, refugees choose longer and more dangerous routes, giving traffickers more control over their movement and survival.
EU Institutions Respond to NGO Concerns
The European Commission indicated that it is assessing the latest data but still argues that the objective of the border policy is to secure the borders while also respecting the humanitarian aspect of the situation.
A spokesperson said that EU border policy agencies are involved in rescue operations at sea and provide the necessary funds for the implementation of reintegration programs for those in need.
The NGO replied that saving operations at sea cannot resolve the situation. They explain that the problem is starting long before the refugees getting into the Mediterranean Sea. According to them, numerous traffickers who operate in Libya, Tunisia, and Turkey intercept minors and only after that, they try to cross.
To get more information about the previous changes in the policy, readers can go through our report on humanitarian aid systems:
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Humanitarian workers consider that the most effective way of trafficking reduction is the provision of safe and legal alternatives, above all for children. They say that if such options are not available, traffickers will continue to find ways to expand their activities.
Calls for Policy Change as EU Border Policy Driving Refugees Creates New Risks
The NGO put pressure on EU countries to change their way of working by reopening humanitarian visas, speeding up the asylum procedures, and supporting the programs of relocation of minors under supervision.
According to them, putting money into these channels will decrease the reliance on traffickers and give the possibility of better control over the movement of refugees.
The ensemble extended its call to the establishment of intimate relations with the governments of the countries of North Africa for the protection of the minors in the zones of transit.
They say that a great number of states which are on the way migration have insufficient resources and are in need of support from the EU border policy in order to stop the traffickers who take advantage of the youth.
Specialists are warning that if the reform is postponed, it may result in an increased number of disappearances.
Historical data indicate that children travelling without documents are more likely to become victims of violence.
As border restrictions are increasing, humanitarian organizations are sounding the alarm about the rise in trafficking as a result of which governments are urged to take action.
Looking Ahead
While the discussion is going on, the members of the European Parliament are being pressured more and more by various advocacy groups, human rights organizations, and networks supporting migrants.
A large number of them hold the view that Europe should really be putting the safety of children first when it comes to border decisions.
The NGO states that it will be actively observing the situation, and it is their intention to have subsequent reports available concerning the risks of trafficking.
They underline that if there is no change in the orientation of the policy, then it is only to traffickers that the young refugees will be handed, who will take advantage of the limited borders to make their profits.
Until changes in the EU border policy refugee border are made, which is the main reason why refugees are being driven into the hands of traffickers, humanitarian agencies continue to be very concerned about this issue.
They warn that if no changes are made to the existing policy, minors will be exposed to increasing risks on some of the most dangerous migration routes in the world.
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