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FRONTEX: Protecting Europe’s external borders
Article Security
Effective border protection is crucial for Europe’s internal security.
The end of checks at the internal borders makes effective protection of the common external borders of the EU all the more important.
The tasks of FRONTEX
The mission of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) is to promote, coordinate and develop European border management in line with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the concept of Integrated Border Management.
The main tasks of the agency include monitoring migratory flows, carrying out risk analysis and vulnerability assessments, coordinating and organizing joint operations and rapid border interventions at the external borders. It also assists EU member states with return operations and fighting organized cross-border crime and terrorism at the external borders of the European Union by supporting member states in cooperation with Europol and Eurojust.
FRONTEX also supports the training of member states’ border guards and experts on return matters, including the implementation of common training standards and assisting technical and operational cooperation between member states and non-EU countries.
Founding and organizational structure
FRONTEX was established by Council Decision (Regulation EC 2007/2004 of 26 October 2004) effective 1 May 2005 and began its work in Warsaw on 3 October 2005 as the first EU agency based in one of the new member states that joined the EU in 2004.
The amendment of the FRONTEX Regulation (EU 1168/2011) in December 2011 further reinforced the agency’s role in coordinating cooperation among the EU member states to protect the EU’s external borders.
The new regulation on the European Border and Coast Guard (EU 2016/1625) significantly strengthened the mandate of FRONTEX. Since its founding in 2005, FRONTEX has become a cornerstone of the EU’s external border protection.
The agency’s executive director is Fabrice Leggeri of France. He prepares and implements resolutions and work programmes after they have been adopted by the Management Board. The deputy executive director is Berndt Körner of Austria.
The main task of the FRONTEX Management Board is overseeing the agency’s activities. The chair of the management board is Marko Gasperlin, Slovenia, and its deputy chair is Ralf Göbel, Germany.
Development, staff and budget
Based on the new regulation and the extended mandate of the agency, FRONTEX is increasing its personnel at its headquarters in Warsaw from about 400 in 2016 to 655 at the end of 2017 and up to more than 1,000 in 2020. Its budget has been increased from €254 million in 2016 to €302 million in 2017 and will grow further to €346 million in 2020.
Germany permanently sends about a hundred Federal Police officers to support FRONTEX operations. Germany also sends a variety of operational equipment, including two Federal Police boats which are currently operating off the Greek island of Samos.
