EMPACT stands for the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats. It introduces an integrated approach to EU internal security, involving measures that range from external border controls, police, customs and judicial cooperation to information management, innovation, training, prevention and the external dimension of internal security, as well as public-private partnerships where appropriate.
Fighting crime
Frontex and EMPACT
Frontex takes part in Joint Action Days – international operations that bring together national law enforcement authorities, international organisations and EU agencies to take on serious and organised crime. These operations are coordinated under the umbrella of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats.
The agency coordinates and takes part in operations aimed at fighting such criminal phenomena as migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, smuggling of firearms, drugs and excise goods, vehicle fraud, document fraud, and many others.
Selected operations
- Massive cocaine seizure: Frontex supports crackdown on sea smuggling
- JAD Pirates II
- Hundreds of guns seized in Frontex-led operation
- 3 tonnes of tobacco, 2 million cigarettes seized at EU’s external borders (europa.eu)
- 82 people smugglers arrested in a Frontex-led operation (europa.eu)
VIDEOS
EMPACT priorities
In June 2025, the Council adopted the conclusions setting the priorities for the EMPACT cycle (2026-2029):
- identifying and disrupting the most threatening criminal networks and individuals
- tackling the fastest growing crimes in the online sphere: cyber-attacks, online child sexual exploitation and online fraud schemes
- fighting drug trafficking
- tackling migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings
- targeting firearms and explosives crime
- disrupting networks involved in environmental crimes
- fighting economic and financial crimes such as VAT fraud and intellectual property crime
Read more on how Council defines the EU's crime-fighting priorities for the next years.