The objective is to support projects to strengthen cooperation between EU Member States and third countries both in origin and in transit countries located along the West and North African Migratory Routes to prevent and repress the smuggling of migrants, while ensuring awareness of all engaged actors of the protection of migrants’ human rights. Important is also to strengthen the cooperation between relevant law enforcement authorities of the third countries concerned in order to exchange operational information. In addition, a strengthened operational presence of EU Member State liaison officers in third countries thanks to increased operational support and coordination on the ground is also desirable.

The following types of activities are eligible under this Call for Proposals:

1. actions improving police cooperation and coordination between law enforcement authorities and, where applicable, international organisations, including joint investigation teams and any other form of cross-border joint operation, access to and exchange of information and interoperable technologies;
2. networking, mutual confidence, understanding and learning, identification, exchange and dissemination of know-how, experience and best practice, information sharing, shared situation awareness and foresight, contingency planning and interoperability;
3. coordination and exchange of information between Member States' liaison officers and the European Migration Liaison Officers (EMLOs) or other EU Agency liaison officers in the region, by making full use of already existing cooperation platforms and networks such as the Network of the Immigration Liaison Officers, and by ensuring that Europol and Frontex are fully involved in the exchange and analysis of information, whenever relevant and bearing in mind the legal constraints concerning the exchange of personal data;
4. make use of existing reporting mechanisms for migrant smuggling related activity in the partner country, and if necessary support the setting up of an information hub (e.g. 24/7 call centre) for reporting, as well as quick communication of operational information to relevant local law enforcement entities to prevent migrant smuggling;
5. preparatory, administrative and technical support to the deployment of Member States liaison officers and short-term experts to the region;
6. training and mentoring of staff and experts of relevant authorities, development of common training curricula and training courses for relevant law enforcement agencies, possibly in cooperation with local training institutions;
7. acquisition, maintenance, and/or further upgrading including ICT systems and their components;
8.  threat and risk assessments.

This call covers the following topics:

• ISFP-2017-AG-SMUGG: Smuggling

The Community provisional funding available for the call for proposals is:

• 2,25 Million EUR (Global Budget)

• 25 April 2018 - more than one year ago (Deadline for the presentation of proposals)
• 13 September 2018 - 9 months ago (Deadline for the presentation of proposals)

• Official page of the Call

• Call for Proposals (Legal base)

Opened to the following bodies or institutes with legal status established in the covered areas:

• Local authorities
• Regional authorities
• National authorities

Bodies or institutes must have their registered legal seat in one of the countries taking part in the Programme which are:

• European Union (EU)

Directorate-General for Justice, Freedom and Security

• Call for Proposals 2018 restricted to member states - Internal Security Fund - Projects aiming to increase law enforcement cooperation to address migrant smuggling
• Call for Proposals 2018 restricted to member states - Internal Security Fund - Additional support for the exchange of passenger name record (PNR) data between Member States
• Call for Proposals 2018 restricted to member states - Internal Security Fund - Projects aimed at furthering the commission recommendation on proportionate police checks and police cooperation in the schengen area
• Call for proposals 2016 in the area of organised crime of the Internal Security Fund - Police
• Call for Proposals 2018 - Internal Security Fund - Counter -Terrorism Financing