EU member states are due to agree a deal today on criminal penalties for human trafficking as part of the fight against illegal immigration.
Ministers meeting in Brussels want to narrow the gap between prison sentences in member states for those caught smuggling or harbouring illegal immigrants in EU countries.
They agreed earlier this year the minimum level for the maximum jail sentence in 13 of the 15 EU member state should be eight years for those convicted of direct involvement on the ground in smuggling people through borders.
In Sweden and Denmark - where the maximum was previously only three years - the new figure was set at six years. Now the ministers want the lowest maximum to be eight years in all member states for those who mastermind the trafficking.
Only Austria is holding up agreement, arguing against the eight-year "minimum-maximum" jail term and questioning the need for common jail standards.
Human traffickers are deemed to be "those who forcibly or fraudulently exploit people's labour or sexual services", as opposed to the "facilitators" who are paid to shepherd illegal immigrants across borders.
PA