"The EU needs to sharpen its external relations to ensure that criminal networks involved in  human trafficking are brought to justice. Effective cooperation within the EU, with relevant stakeholders such as national NGOs and international organisations and with third countries is needed to combat and prevent human trafficking."

MEP Comodini Cachia made these remarks following a Foreign Affairs Committee meeting in which the report ‘The fight against trafficking in human beings in the EU’s external relations’ was adopted.

As shadow rapporteur on behalf of the European People’s Party (EPP) Group on this report  Comodini Cachia's contribution focused on encouraging the EU to develop an anti-trafficking strategy with a stronger and more targeted external dimension that takes into consideration also the different vulnerabilities of persons who fall victims of criminal networks.

She further stated that"Multinational corporations also have a role to play in ensuring that businesses too combat trafficking. Unless we seriously address situations in third  countries that give rise to trafficked victims entering the EU, we will not be able to strengthen measures that are now taken to combat trafficking within the EU."

MEP Therese Comodini Cachia is a member of the Human Rights Subcommittee of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee.