The last independent evaluation of EMPACT concluded that the mechanism brings substantial added value, fosters multiagency, multi-actor, cross-border, innovative and structured cooperation. It offers a unique platform that facilitates connections and provides financial support for Member States. Here are the priorities for 2026-2029:
The most threatening criminal networks and individuals
The aim of this priority is to identify and disrupt the most threatening criminal networks active in the EU, the individuals with key roles in these networks and the individuals acting alone and committing serious crimes as a service. A special emphasis should be placed on the criminal networks and individuals undermining the rule of law by using corruption and parallel financial systems and abusing legal business structures to launder money, and by exploiting young recruits and using violence to further their criminal goals. Efforts should also be made on asset recovery to effectively seize and confiscate criminal profits and disrupt the financing of further criminal activities.
Fastest growing crimes in the online sphere
The priority of tackling the fastest growing crimes in the online sphere consists of three sub-priorities and should be addressed through:
- Cyber-attacks: to target the criminal offenders orchestrating cyber-attacks targeting critical infrastructure, governments, businesses and private citizens.
- Online child sexual exploitation: to combat child sexual exploitation being nurtured online, including the production and dissemination of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM) and the solicitation of children”.
- Online fraud schemes: to target criminal networks and individuals orchestrating large-scale fraud schemes online aimed at defrauding private individuals, businesses and public sector organisations, particularly those generating multi-million euro revenues each year and using online platforms to amplify the reach of their scams to target a large number of victims.
Drug trafficking
The priority of fighting drug trafficking consists of two sub-priorities and should be addressed through:
The production, trafficking and distribution of cannabis, cocaine and heroin: to identify and target criminal networks and individuals involved (1) in the wholesale trafficking of cannabis, cocaine and heroin to the EU, and/or (2) in the cultivation of cannabis and distribution of cannabis, cocaine and heroin and related precursors in the EU.
The production, trafficking and distribution of synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances: to identify and target the criminal networks and individuals involved in the production and global supply of synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances and (pre-)precursors in, to, and from the EU.
Migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings
The priority of tackling smuggling, trafficking, and exploitation consists of two sub-priorities and should be addressed through:
- Migrant smuggling: to fight against criminal networks and individuals involved in the smuggling of migrants, in particular those providing comprehensive facilitation services to irregular migrants along the main migratory routes crossing the external border of the EU and those involved in facilitation of secondary movements and legalisation of residence status within the EU, with a focus on those whose methods endanger people’s lives. Specific attention should also be given to document and identity fraud, and the use of fraudulently obtained documents.
- Trafficking in human beings: to disrupt criminal networks and individuals engaged in the trafficking in human beings for all forms of exploitation, including labour and sexual exploitation. Special focus should be given to cases of exploitation of minors, including, for forced criminality, cases of use or threats of violence against victims and their families, cases of misleading victims by simulating to officialise the exploitation, cases of recruitment, advertisement or exploitation of victims online, cases of intermediaries providing digital services.
Firearms and explosives crimes
The aim of this priority is to target criminal networks and individuals involved in the misuse, illicit manufacture, trafficking, possession and modification of the marking of firearms and other small arms and light weapons (SALW). This is also applicable to corresponding illicit activities related to explosives and pyrotechnic products.
Environmental crimes
The aim of this priority is to disrupt criminal networks and individuals involved in all forms of environmental criminal offences, with a specific focus on those involved in waste crime, which poses a critical threat by causing devastating effects on the environment, human health and the economies, and on those with a capability to infiltrate legal business structures or to set up their own companies or similar organisational structures as a mean to facilitate unlawful activities.
Economic and financial crimes
The priority of fighting fraud against the interest of the EU and its Member States consists of three sub-priorities and should be addressed through three OAPs.
- VAT (incl. MTIC) fraud: to disrupt criminal networks and individual criminal entrepreneurs involved in large-scale and complex value added tax (VAT) fraud, in particular in missing trader intra-Community (MTIC) fraud.
- Excise and customs fraud: to target criminal networks and individuals engaging in the large-scale excise fraud, with particular focus on the production and/or trafficking of illicit tobacco products in the EU, and in customs fraud (including sanctions evasion) that results in significant financial losses for the EU and substantial tax revenue losses for many Member States as well as threatens the safety and security of EU citizens.
- Intellectual property (IP) crime, counterfeiting of goods and currencies: to combat and disrupt criminal networks and criminal individual entrepreneurs involved in IP crime and in the production, sale or distribution (physical and online) of counterfeit goods or currencies, with a specific focus on goods harmful to consumers’ health and safety, to the environment and to the EU economy.
EMPACT operates in four-year cycles. Every four years, Europol produces the European Union Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU SOCTA), based on input provided by Member States and other stakeholders, including Eurojust. The EU SOCTA identifies the major criminal threats affecting the Europe[1]an Union and sets out potential crime priorities.
The EU SOCTA is then used by the European Commission and the Presidency of the Council of the European Union to advise Justice and Home Affairs ministers so they adopt the EU crime priorities being fought by EMPACT over the following four years.
A multi-annual strategic plan and set of goals are drawn up based on these key priorities to form the basis of Operational Action Plans (OAPs).
For each OAP, so-called drivers and co-drivers are appointed who oversee the planning with assistance from national coordinators. Concrete actions are organised for the particular targeted crime areas, leading to joint operational actions days or weeks.
The process is constantly monitored and fully evaluated at the end of each cycle.
By building on knowledge and expertise from a diverse range of partners, various insights are taken on board, facilitating a multifaceted approach. For instance, in operations against human trafficking, the expertise of specialist non-governmental organisations can play an important role. Depending on assessments, EMPACT can have a preventive or repressive character.
By improving cross-border cooperation, EMPACT helps build trust between partners as they gain familiarity with each other and their specific fields of expertise. This leads to continuity in crime fighting between participants and between countries. Due to its long[1]term approach, EMPACT provides insights into patterns in certain crime areas. It also furthers knowledge on the persistence and backgrounds of certain criminal phenomena, feeding into the intelligence-led principle of the platform
EMPACT stands for the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats
EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats) is a security initiative driven by EU Member States to identify, prioritise and address threats posed by organised and serious international crime.
EMPACT brings together a broad range of multidisciplinary professionals from Member States and third countries to take concrete actions against criminal networks.
It introduces an integrated approach to EU internal security, involving measures that range from external border controls, police, customs and judicial cooperation to information management, innovation, training, prevention and the external dimension of internal security, as well as public-private partnerships where appropriate.
Participants include law enforcement authorities, the judiciary, EU agencies, customs and tax offices and private partners. With EMPACT, every year over 200 operational actions are carried out in targeted key crime areas.
For more information on the evolution of EMPACT please visit EU Policy Cycle - EMPACT | Europol (europa.eu) or alternatively download the EMPACT information leaflet