The Council of the European Union’s Analysis and Research Team (ART) paper on organized crime in 2025 goes beyond sounding the alarm. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolving landscape and offers a comprehensive toolkit for a whole-of-society response. For those interested in broad, integrated security, here’s a closer look at the most significant findings and forward-looking policy recommendations from this landmark report.
The Changing Threat Environment
- Organized crime has infiltrated various aspects of society, including legitimate sectors. Criminal networks have become highly agile, utilizing digital platforms, cross-border logistics, and sophisticated finance to expand their activities. These groups systematically exploit vulnerabilities in governance, digital infrastructure, and social cohesion.
- Hybrid threats and social destabilization have emerged as core tactics. Crime groups no longer solely seek profit; they actively undermine trust in institutions, inflame social tensions, participate in disinformation campaigns, and can even serve as proxies for hostile foreign powers. This multiplies the risk to critical infrastructure and public confidence, blurring the line between crime, disorder, and even national security.
- Organized criminal groups actively recruit and prey on vulnerable communities, exploiting social and economic inequality. Their influence in local economies, politics, and neighborhoods amplifies exclusion, creating environments conducive to crime.
- To address this issue, a whole-of-society defense approach is essential. This approach should involve all sectors, not just law enforcement. Public-private partnerships, community groups, educators, and health professionals must be involved in prevention, early warning, and capacity building.
- Strengthening resilience at every level is crucial. Investing in digital and financial literacy, community engagement, and local governance can make societies less hospitable to criminal influence. Support reintegration and social inclusion programs that reduce susceptibility to criminal recruitment. Encourage businesses and civil society to detect and report suspicious activities.
- Upgrading technology and intelligence sharing is also vital. Enhancing cross-border and inter-agency data exchange, including with the private sector, promotes modern investigative tools and harmonized standards. This allows for rapid sharing and action on digital evidence, financial intelligence, and risk signals across the EU and with outside partners.
- Adopting a “follow-the-money” approach is essential. Prioritizing tracing, freezing, and confiscating criminal assets is crucial. Broadening legislation to cover new financial crimes and expanding asset recovery tools makes it harder for criminal profits to infiltrate economies and politics. Systematically linking this work to anti-corruption efforts is also necessary.
- Protect critical infrastructure and defend against hybrid threats. Develop coordinated plans to safeguard energy, communications, and essential public services from cyber-attacks, sabotage, and corruption. Tailor prevention and reaction frameworks to encompass new forms of hybrid and “blended” criminal threats highlighted in the ART and ProtectEU strategies.
- Empower local communities in detection and prevention. Engage schools, NGOs, and local councils to identify and disrupt recruitment efforts, provide support to at-risk individuals, and restore trust in communities where organized crime has taken hold. Ensure that social and health services are equipped to recognize signs of exploitation or coercion linked to criminal networks.
A Call to Action
The ART paper’s message is unequivocal: organized crime cannot be eradicated solely through enforcement measures. It necessitates heightened vigilance, collaborative action across all societal layers, and a shared commitment to safeguarding democracy and cohesion. From citizens and businesses to digital platforms and local councils, every aspect of society plays a crucial role in detection, prevention, and resistance.
The future of EU security lies not only in the actions of governments but also in the collective participation of citizens, businesses, digital platforms, and local councils in building resilient, inclusive, and crime-proof communities.
The report is available here.
