MEPs visit Port of Antwerp to strengthen fight against drug crime

Under the leadership of Flemish MEP Assita Kanko, a delegation from the European Parliament is visiting the Port of Antwerp today to gain deeper insights into the fight against drug trafficking. The initiative is part of the Police Intergroup, which was established in the European Parliament at the end of last year at Kanko’s initiative.

More European support needed

“Organized crime must be tackled at an international level. Our police forces are under immense pressure, and the safety of our citizens is at risk—just look at the recent shootings in Brussels. We need stronger European support to ensure security,” said Assita Kanko.

The European delegation includes MEPs from four other EU member states, representing various political groups. In Antwerp, they will visit a container terminal and a border inspection post, engaging with representatives from the port authority, law enforcement, customs, and private companies. Their primary focus is the fight against organized crime—particularly drug trafficking. The urgency of increased political attention at the European level has been underscored by recent drug-related violence in Brussels, which has claimed multiple lives in recent weeks.

Modern scanning technology

Earlier this year, the European Commission launched the European Ports Alliance, a public-private partnership aimed at combating drug trafficking. As part of this initiative, the EU has committed €200 million to modern container scanning facilities. However, further cooperation between European ports and national and EU-level authorities is necessary. The visiting MEPs hope to gain new insights into how ports can enhance efforts against drug smuggling. In Antwerp, they will also assess the impact of existing EU initiatives and explore potential next steps.

Police Intergroup

Recognizing that cross-border crime requires international political cooperation, Assita Kanko, along with like-minded MEPs from various political groups, launched the Police Intergroup last year. The goal is to support and strengthen the work of European law enforcement agencies. In just a few months, dozens of MEPs from nearly all EU member states have joined the Intergroup, which has since received formal approval from all political factions in the European Parliament.

Assita Kanko emphasized the growing challenge: “Police forces are under immense strain. Organized crime is becoming increasingly international and more violent. And criticism from the left is making it even harder for our law enforcement officers to do their jobs. Through the Police Intergroup, we can now advocate more effectively for the interests of our police forces in the European Parliament. If we truly want to combat organized crime more efficiently, we must intensify cooperation between EU member states—and extend that collaboration beyond Europe’s borders.”