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Legal Expert appointed by the FCDO

Today the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, convened a high-level meeting of senior ministers, the National Crime Agency, and the intelligence services, in response to criminal gangs smuggling people from France in small boats.  

Between February and June this year, Abigail assisted the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (‘FCDO’) in her role as a Legal Expert in preparation for the agenda of the European Committee on Crime Problems (‘CDPC’) at its 85th Plenary meeting in Strasbourg held on three days in June at the Palais de l’Europe.

Abigail will further assist the FCDO when she follows proceedings this Tuesday (10th September) at the start of the Second International Conference on Migrant Smuggling at the Council of Europe. 

The meeting will be held in camera between Europe Heads of State and Government.  The European Committee on Crime Problems will convene the Conference in collaboration with the Office of the Special Representative on Migration and Refugees. The meeting seeks to give effect to the objectives in the Reykjavík Declaration.

The Council of Europe Heads of State and Government at their Fourth Summit held in Reykjavik last May resolved and decided that countering migrant smuggling is a priority.  

European leaders declared in the Reykjavík Declaration: ‘We recall the increasing challenges of migration and the necessity to fight against trafficking and smuggling of migrants. We commit to intensifying efforts to foster and improve international co-operation in this regard, while continuing to protect the victims and respect the human rights of migrants and refugees, as well as supporting frontline States, within the existing Council of Europe frameworks.’