The Network of Anti-Trafficking Coordinators of South-East Europe (NATC-SEE)¹ gathered to develop and exchange solutions on human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and labour exploitation including of foreign nationals in the region. At the meeting in Sarajevo on 13-14 November 2025, members of the network provided updates on their recent and upcoming regional collaborations to support victims of human trafficking; as well as case studies on identifying and prosecuting trafficking cases.
With 32 countries now participating in the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), Mr Gregor Hudrič, Anti-Trafficking Coordinator of Slovenia’s Ministry of the Interior, cited some recent figures from the European Labour Authority, to set the tone of the discussions:
- In the last few weeks, at least 404 potential victims of human trafficking had been identified, including 393 related to labour exploitation.
- 93 persons suspected of trafficking in human beings were identified, of whom 92 were for labour exploitation. At least 54 were arrested for various criminal offences, including 44 specifically for labour exploitation.
- Prominent cases were from Spain in the fast-food sector, involving a victim from Nepal; from Hungary on a farm and in factories (victims from Hungary and Romania); and Ukraine in the agriculture sector (involving victims from Uzbekistan).
I would like to highlight the importance or regional cooperation to address human trafficking and the need to work on challenges posed by the changing dynamics in the region, which brings an increase in the number of cases of human trafficking, and the labour exploitation of foreign citizens.said HE Mr Ermin Pešto, Assistant Minister and State Coordinator at the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Discussions and presentations focused on the trends and challenges in identification of vicitms, solutions, and best-practices in addressing labour exploitation of foreigners; as well as the judicial practices and legal instruments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia, on prosecuting human trafficking cases. Experts presented a diverse range of case studies, particularly those from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo², Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia.
Presenting some preliminary findings of the analysis of challenges in prosecuting human trafficking in Slovenia, Marko Balažic from the Criminology Institute of Ljubljana also shared some examples of forward-looking ideas on cooperation, to support victims that have been trafficked across borders. These include the issuance of permission to stay to cover the reflection period, the issuance of temporary residence permit, and their participation in criminal proceedings.
Mr Balažic also cited ideas around cooperation between ministries and NGOs and humanitarian organisations, in support of victims; including care, identification/detection of cases, (crisis) accommodation; assistance and protection of victims in pre-trial, criminal and judicial proceedings; assistance with access to the labour market; vocational training and education; assistance with regularising status in-country; information and awareness-raising among target groups; and the return of the victim to the country of origin.
Although it would be difficult to imagine this occurring in the 21st century, we are seeing cruel forms of exploitation of workers by some employers and various agencies that are engaged in providing these workers. The situation is almost the same everywhere in the region, therefore I am convinced we have chosen the right topics for this meeting.Slovenia’s Mr Hudrič emphasised
With support from the EU, the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Italian Ministry of the Interior and the Government of the Netherlands, the meeting also highlighted the EU’s support to strengthen the fight against migrant smuggling and labour exploitation in the Western Balkans through the EU4FAST project.
Among the other speakers at the event joining Bosnia’s Assistant Minister Pešto and Slovenia’s Mr Hudrič, were Sanin Prašović, Expert Advisor on Trafficking in Human Beings at the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Igor Miskovic, Protection Adviser from the GIZ in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Dr Eldan Mujanović, from the Criminal Policy Research Centre of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Marko Milicevic, Regional Specialist on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section at UNODC; and ICMPD’s Madis Vainomaa and Ivanka Hainzl.
Earlier this year, the Network adopted the new Strategy 2025-2029 in Slovenia to update members on the new developments and trends in combatting human trafficking.
HE Mr Ermin Pesto, Assistant Minister and State Coordinator at the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina (middle row, centre), addressing the conference. Also in the photo are: Mr Gregor Hudric, Anti-Trafficking Coordinator at Slovenia's Ministry of Interior; Mr Sanin Prasovic, Expert Advisor at the Trafficking in Human Beings Section of the Ministry of Security, Bosnia and Herzegovina; and GIZ's Mr Igor Miskovic, Prevention and Protection Adviser for the EU4FAST project for the Western Balkans.
¹ This meeting is made possible through the project “Regional Frameworks: Learning and Collaboration for Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings”, supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in the framework of its EU4FAST project; co-funded by the European Union, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Italy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
² All references to Kosovo in this content should be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).