Eurostat just released its latest figures on human trafficking in the European Union, reflecting data for 2024. The report reveals that 9,678 victims of human trafficking were registered across the EU, representing an 8% decrease compared to 2023. However, fluctuations in official figures should be interpreted with caution, as they often reflect changes in identification practices rather than real decreases in human trafficking. There is no mention however, of human trafficking cases for the exploitation of forced marriage, of illegal adoption or of surrogacy. The lack of safe and legal migration pathways, combined with restrictive residence regimes, increases vulnerability to exploitation and human trafficking.