The European Commission is looking for a Principal Adviser – Anti-Trafficking Coordinator

To recall, the Lisbon Treaty has transferred “Police and Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters” from the intergovernmental to the EC pillar. This has,major implications, as the “Community method”, co-decision, qualified majority voting and the ECJ’s jurisdiction have been extended to this area.

The Treaty of Lisbon has strengthened, therefore, EU action in the field of judicial and police cooperation in criminal matters, including in combating trafficking in human beings. Consequently, the Commission felt the need to recruit an EU anti-trafficking coordinator to coordinate EU action and policies in this field. National governments should cooperate in this area but Brussels wants to “coordinate” their actions meaning, tell them what to do.

The anti-trafficking coordinator, under the supervision of the Director-General for Justice, Freedom and Security, will be in charge of providing “the overall strategic policy orientation in the field of trafficking in human beings.” One of his/her main tasks will be to improve coordination between the EU institutions and EU agencies such as Eurojust, Europol, Frontex, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights as well as with Member States and international actors. Such person would be, therefore, in charge of “coordinating” the activities of the network of national anti trafficking coordinators. Moreover, he/she will be involved in “the elaboration of existing or new policies relevant to the fight against trafficking in human beings.”

The anti-trafficking coordinator will be added to the long list of principal advisers of the European Communities. He/she will be appointed by the European Commission for a period of five years, with a basic monthly salary ranging from around €12.967 to around €14.672. Moreover, as the other principal advisers, the anti-trafficking coordinator is also entitled to family (e.g. household, dependant child allowances) and other allowances. For instance, he/she is entitled to an expatriation allowance equivalent to 16% of the total of the basic salary.