Romania and Bulgaria, in top of EU human trafficking

Over 23,000 people were victims of human trafficking in the European Union between 2008 and 2010.

According to data published today by the European Commission, most victims are from Romania and Bulgaria, said Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs.

"Romania and Bulgaria are the countries from where come most of the human trafficking victims.

"We work for several years with the authorities of both countries to see how we can help them in all phases of this phenomenon: in the prevention phase, during the criminal phase, but also for the rehabilitation of victims and we have numerous projects developing.

"It is important that the authorities of Romania and Bulgaria to take this phenomenon seriously and do their best in all phases of this phenomenon.

"Most of the victims belong to the gypsy minority and we have to considerably improve the living conditions of these people.

"This is an issue where the authorities of both countries should make more efforts", said Cecilia Malmström.

Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom has called on EU states to implement the Directive on combating trafficking in human beings, which came into force on April the 6th and for which the Member States were given two years.

She was disappointed that so far only six countries have transposed into national law the new regulations.

Translated by Alexandra-Diana Mircea

MTTLC, Bucharest University