On 7 March 2025, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and the Government of Catalonia hosted a highly insightful webinar addressing human trafficking and labour exploitation. This event, part of the EU-Belong Knowledge Transfer Cluster on How People Work and Create, brought together experts and regional stakeholders to discuss challenges, best practices, and innovative approaches to combating these concerns across European regions.
Key Insights from the Webinar
The session began with an introduction from Joan de Lara (Government of Catalonia), setting the stage for an in-depth discussion on the complexities of human trafficking and labour exploitation.
Giovanna Leuzzi (Predoctoral Researcher, Universitat de Barcelona) provided a crucial legal perspective, highlighting the lack of a universal definition for labour exploitation. She explained how this gap results in differing policies across EU countries, creating challenges in tackling the issue effectively. Dr Leuzzi also underscored the importance of the principle of non-punishment, ensuring that trafficking victims are not criminalised for actions committed under coercion. The discussion also touched on the role of Europe/ EU-wide policies and conventions in shaping a more harmonised response to these crimes.
Lessons from Catalonia: Supporting Agricultural Workers
Julia Olarieta-Domingo, an activist from Fruita amb Justícia Social, shared insights into the harsh realities faced by seasonal agricultural workers in Catalonia. With 20,000–40,000 workers arriving each summer for the fruit harvest, many experience unfair labour conditions, including informal contracts, low wages, and inadequate housing. Her organisation, through initiatives such as Els Drets en Ruta, has taken a grassroots approach to providing support by distributing vital information and advocating for workers’ rights.
Pomerania’s Community-Based Approach
Martyna Bomba, representing the Pomerania Region, presented a case study on regional efforts to support migrants and trafficking victims. As part of the Intercultural Plot Twist pilot within the EU-Belong project, Pomerania implemented a series of initiatives, including legal and healthcare workshops, cultural exchange activities, and direct assistance for survivors of human trafficking.
A key moment in this pilot was the participation in the Multicultural Family Picnic, an annual initiative in Pomerania. This year, the event featured a dedicated EU-Belong stand, where participants of previous Intercultural Plot Twist workshops organised activities for children and adults as a way to give back to the local community. Their contributions included fabric decoration workshops inspired by Pre-Columbian art, a surrealist jungle photography zone, and a traditional cumbia dance performance. These initiatives not only fostered cultural exchange but also strengthened connections between migrants and local residents.
Looking Ahead
The webinar underscored the need for stronger collaboration between European regions to tackle human trafficking and labour exploitation. The discussions reinforced the importance of clear legal frameworks, awareness-raising initiatives to identify forced labour, and targeted support programmes for vulnerable workers.
The insights shared during the event will help shape future regional policies and inspire new approaches to protecting victims and preventing exploitation. AER and its partners remain committed to fostering knowledge exchange and promoting best practices to create safer and fairer labour conditions across Europe.
About EU-Belong
EU-Belong is a 3-year project co-funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund of the European Union. Coordinated by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) within the framework of its Intercultural Regions Network (IRN), it is implemented in partnership with ten regional authorities from seven European countries: Arad and Timiș in Romania; Catalonia and Navarra in Spain; Donegal in Ireland; Emilia-Romagna in Italy; Leipzig in Germany; Pomerania and Poznan in Poland; Salzburg in Austria; and two technical partners: ART-ER Attrattività Ricerca Territorio and Istituto Economico Cooperazione Internazionale (ICEI).
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For questions, contact Emanuela Pisanó, EU-Belong Project Manager at [email protected]
