EU report outlines priorities in organized crime

The European Commission set out its future priorities to combat serious and organized crime in a report on Wednesday.

The report is the sixth in a series of monthly reports on progress made towards an effective and sustainable Security Union, according to a Commission statement.

It identifies eight specific threats, including cyber crime, drugs, migrant smuggling, organized property crime, trafficking in human beings, firearms trafficking, tax fraud and environmental crime.

"These priorities should feed into the new EU policy cycle for 2018-2020 to ensure effective cooperation between member states in addressing the most pressing criminal threats facing the EU," the statement said.

The Commission calls on the Council to endorse these priorities at the June 2017 Justice and Home Affairs Council.

European Commissioner for the Security Union Julian King stated: "This report provides a solid basis for discussion on EU priorities on combating serious and organized crime for the next four years."