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A new report has revealed that at least 142 individuals were prosecuted across Europe in 2024 for assisting or rescuing migrants. Published on Tuesday by the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM), the findings highlight a worrying trend in the criminalisation of humanitarian efforts.
According to PICUM, more than 80 people faced legal action for helping migrants at sea, while around 20 were prosecuted for offering essential supplies such as water, food, or clothing. Silvia Carta from PICUM expressed concern, noting that this marked the fourth consecutive year in which the number of prosecutions had increased. She criticised the growing “criminalisation of solidarity with migrants.”
The report focuses on activities in countries including Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Malta, and Poland, drawing on a range of sources, including European media. Carta warned that the documented cases likely represent only a fraction of the true number of prosecutions, suggesting that many incidents remain unreported.
Among the highlighted cases was that of seven Basque activists, accused of exploiting a race event to smuggle 36 migrants across the Spanish-French border in March 2024. Their trial is set to begin in early October. Additionally, the report draws attention to five individuals in Poland who are facing prison sentences for offering humanitarian assistance to migrants at the border with Belarus.
