The Netherlands is joining forces with Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Sweden to make Europe’s ports more resilient to organised crime. These seven countries are forming a coalition against organised crime called the C7.
Together with the other six countries, the Netherlands wants a guarantee that security at European ports is adequate everywhere, with common security standards.
The C7 also considers it is important to better detect corruption at ports. In addition, the countries consider it important to promote cooperation with source and transit countries and share information between relevant organisations.
The European Ports Alliance is largely inspired by the already existing cooperation between the Netherlands and Belgium.
Dutch minister of justice and security David van Weel said: “By ensuring European ports become resilient against organised crime, we can together ensure security at our ports. Drug criminals threaten and intimidate everyone to advance their illegal practices. Think of judges, prosecutors, police officers, journalists and mayors.”
“But workers at the port, a major transit location of drugs, must also become resilient to the practices of drug criminals. That is something we need to do together.”
By offering this advice, the C7 is exerting influence on the further development of the ambitions within the European Ports Alliance, especially in the field of public-private partnerships.
