Naples, Oct. 4, (dpa/GNA) – The Group of Seven (G7) advanced industrialized democracies on Friday adopted a broad action plan in the fight against international migrant smuggling.
The goal is to stop smugglers and the organized crime behind them through a “global approach to delivering effective and sustainable measures to tackling these complex crimes,” said the final declaration of the meeting of G7 interior ministers in the Italian city of Naples.
Cooperation between the authorities of the countries of origin, transit and destination is therefore the focus, it said.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized the importance of working together with all G7 countries to counter migrant smuggling and its effects.
Among other things, this included further strengthening the operational capabilities of the security authorities, Faeser said.
In addition, relevant data should be exchanged even more closely with migrants’ countries of origin and transit. Stricter border management and monitoring are intended to thwart the routes of smugglers, the German minister said.
The role of social media in facilitating contact between smugglers and migrants has become increasingly important in recent years, according to the meeting participants.
The action plan therefore also provides for increased cooperation with social media companies to prevent the online activities of smugglers and their networks that advertise irregular migration and offer their services on relevant platforms and chat groups.
The G7 ministers also discussed topics such as international terrorism, organized crime in general, drug smuggling and hybrid threats such as disinformation campaigns.
The G7 is an informal forum of the leaders of seven major industrialized nations: Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, Canada and the United States. Italy currently chairs the G7.
GNA
