The 2011 EU Directive on Combating Human Trafficking: Does the United Kingdom Comply?

Abstract

This article examines the obligations addressed to European Union (EU) member states as set out in the ‘Directive on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Protecting its Victims’ (Directive). The Directive, passed by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on 5 April 2011, replaces an earlier ‘Framework Decision on Combating Human Trafficking’ (Framework Decision). On the EU’s agenda for almost a decade since the passing of the Framework Decision, the Directive is significant in that it was adopted in the wake of the Lisbon Treaty reforms.