In Brussels today, the European Commission is hosting the second International Conference of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling. Such Conference brings together over 80 delegations, many at ministerial level, from EU member states and international partners next to high representatives from international organisations committed to strengthening global cooperation against migrant smuggling. President Ursula von der Leyen opened the event by saying, among other things: “It must be Europe that decides who comes to us and in what circumstances, not the people-smugglers and traffickers. Today, we join forces with our partners and take the Global Alliance to the next level. To prevent illegal journeys in the first place, to break the smugglers business and also to better inform and warn those targeted by the smugglers”. “The smuggling of migrants remains a grave concern, with criminal networks having links to other serious criminal offences, such as money laundering, corruption and trafficking in drugs”, a release from the EU Commission explained. It should also be pointed out that just in the last few days the EU has taken measures to make asylum rights more difficult, while its policy on refoulement, repatriation and hubs in third countries, not all of them rated as safe according to international law, continues. However, more than 50 partners have today endorsed a Joint Declaration reaffirming their commitment to strengthen international cooperation against migrant smuggling.