EU-funded innovative projects support the European Ports Alliance

The EU is facing an unprecedented health and security challenge, with cocaine and synthetic drugs emerging as primary concerns. Maritime transport remains the primary route for cocaine trafficking to Europe. Europol’s joint analysis report with the Security Steering Committee of the ports of Antwerp, Hamburg/Bremerhaven and Rotterdam sheds more light on how criminal networks manage to infiltrate ports for drug trafficking. The report underlines the importance of integrating security features in port infrastructure. It also recommends enhancing international exchange of information, which is one of the aims of the European Ports Alliance.

The European Ports Alliance was launched in January 2024 as a flagship initiative of the EU Roadmap to fight drug trafficking and organised crime, adopted by the European Commission on 18 October 2023. It is a public-private partnership gathering authorities from EU Member States, the European Commission, several EU agencies, port operators, shipping associations, and customs and law enforcement authorities. Its aim is to combat organised crime and drug trafficking by improving security in ports.

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