Criminalising solidarity? Not in our name!

To the Members of the European Parliament and to the Council of the European Union
Petition
We call on you to:
- Reject the Europol Regulation in its entirety, as it unlawfully expands the agency’s mandate and poses serious risks to privacy, non-discrimination, and the right to a fair trial.
- Amend the Facilitation Directive to clearly define smuggling as a for-profit activity, and to include a strong humanitarian exemption that protects migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, their families, and human rights defenders from being prosecuted simply for offering help.
Why is this important?
Christian Agbor was just 20 when he fled terror in Nigeria. He crossed the Sahara barefoot and drank muddy water to survive. He was locked in a flooded basement in Libya, forced to sleep standing—or risk drowning.
Then came his only hope: a fragile rubber dinghy crammed with over 100 people. Halfway to Europe, the boat broke down and started sinking.
Panic spread. Children cried. People prayed.
Christian stayed calm. He used a GPS to send a distress signal.
But when he reached Italy, Christian was arrested. Accused of being a smuggler—just for touching the GPS. He spent four months in prison before being cleared and released. [1,2]
It wasn’t a misunderstanding—it was a policing machine built to suspect, not protect.
Now, that same logic is being scaled up across Europe.
In just 7 days, the EU Parliament will vote on a law giving the European Law Enforcement Agency (Europol) sweeping powers to collect and analyse personal data - with AI and without oversight - to criminalise those who help people on the move. [3]
Went to a protest? Travelled to the “wrong” country? Have a name algorithms flag as risky? That could be enough to put you on Europol’s radar—without your knowledge, and no way to fight back. [4]
Right now, key Members of the European Parliament are still undecided. They’re watching public opinion—and our silence will be taken as approval.
Over 120 civil society organisations have already raised the alarm. Now they need us—citizens—to add our voices. [5]
Every name adds pressure. Every voice builds momentum. That’s how we win.
References:
- Christian Agbor is now the President of the Migrant Commission in the City of Padua, a respected voice for migrant rights and social inclusion. Drawing from his own journey, he has become a civic leader working to improve the lives of thousands.
- https://www.polesine24.it/cronaca/2023/10/03/news/ieri-profugo-oggi-in-consiglio-comunale-229061/
- https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2025/765787/EPRS_STU(2025)765787_EN.pdf
- https://edri.org/our-work/europols-ever-increasing-mandate-european-parliament-failed-to-stand-up-for-fundamental-rights/
- https://www.equinox-eu.com/eu-stop-criminalising-migration-in-the-facilitators-package-law/