// 1.2.3. EUROPEAN MIGRANT SMUGGLING CENTRE (EMSC)

Another important challenge is the unprecedented increase in the number of irregular migrants arriving in the EU since 2014. Europol’s research indicates that 90 % of these migrants have their journey facilitated by a criminal organisation.

The European Migrant Smuggling Centre (EMSC) is an essential aspect of the EU’s response to the migrant crisis with the aimoftackling this illicit multi-billion-euro trade. The EMSC forms part of the European Serious and Organised Crime Centre (ESOCC) as another entity based on Europol’s robust data protection regime.