“The recent events on the EU-Belarus border would not have been possible without certain transport operators knowingly or unknowingly participating in the exploitation of people,” the statement said.
To combat the “instrumentalization of people for political purposes”, the European Commission proposes to create a legal basis for “targeted measures” against transport operators who are involved in the smuggling of people into the European Union or contribute to it.
The measures are proposed on a case-by-case basis and could constitute restrictions on activities in the EU market, suspension of licenses or permits, and suspension of refueling or maintenance rights within the EU.
Also, the European Commission expressed the opinion that the manipulation of information has become a key tool for creating a migration crisis at the borders of the EU.