Organised crime is a major threat to European citizens, business and institutions, as well as to the European economy. In 2019, criminal revenues in the main criminal markets amounted to 1 % of the EU’s GDP, i.e. €139 billion.
Crime groups are present in all EU countries and often operate across borders. 70 % of criminal groups are, in fact, active in more than three member states.
The top criminal activities in Europe are drugs trafficking, cybercrime, excise fraud, migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings .
In May 2021, the EU adopted its priorities for the fight against serious and organised crime for the next four years. The priorities will be implemented between 2022 and 2025 within the ‘European multi-disciplinary platform against criminal threats‘ (EMPACT).
In February 2021, EU countries decided to make EMPACT a permanent instrument in the fight against serious and organised crime. Within the EMPACT framework, EU member states, agencies and other partners work closely together to address key criminal threats through joint operational actions designed to dismantle criminal networks, their structures and business models.