ABSTRACT
In 2009, the European Commission adopted the Action-Oriented Paper (AOP) to highlight its future strategy to define a global EU strategy against trafficking. One of the proposed recommended activities included Member States creating international Swift Action Teams:
In response to a new trend or pattern in THB, for instance a noticeable increase in the number of victims of THB with a similar background or travelling route, it may be deemed necessary, in order to address this adequately, to develop a joint effort in partnership with a third country, region or organisation at international level. To this end, Swift Action Teams (SATs) may be established by Member States in cooperation with EUROPOL and FRONTEX. These SATs should be composed of experts from Member States, including liaison officers, as well as EUROPOL and FRONTEX where appropriate. A SAT should be deployed to support a specific third country, region or international organisation in the area of migration management, for example by assisting third countries in identifying victims of THB at airports before they board and providing training on the identification of victims and forged identity papers. Before a SAT starts work, care should be taken to ensure that shelter and assistance are available for any victims identified in that third country. 1
