The European Parliament, Council and Commission have reached an agreement, endorsed by the Council today, on the Commission’s proposal on a European Border and Coast Guard, paving the way for the reinforced Agency to be up and running starting this summer.
The European Border and Coast Guard will combine a new reinforced Agency, building on the foundations laid by Frontex, with the ability to draw on a reserve pool of people and equipment. Member States will continue to keep their competence and sovereignty on their borders. They will continue to manage the external border day to day. But crucially, the European Border and Coast Guard will provide support to all Member States and be able to identify and intervene to address weaknesses in advance, and not when it’s too late.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: “The agreement on the creation of a European Border and Coast Guard shows that Europe is able to act swiftly and resolutely to deal with common challenges. This is an idea whose time has clearly come: The Commission said it back in May 2014, and I said it during my election campaign – that we need to strengthen Frontex significantly and develop it into a fully operational European Border and Coast Guard system. The Commission has been working constructively with our partners in the European Parliament and Council since we tabled the proposal last December and I would like to thank in particular the Dutch Presidency, my First Vice-President Frans Timmermans and Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos for their tireless work on this important project that will show to the world: As of now, Europe treats the protection of its borders as a common mission of solidarity.“
