Border security

New European Border Agency Launched

The European Parliament, Commission and Council agreed on June 21 to establish the European Border and Coast Guard.  The new agency, which will be an expanded version of the current Frontex agency, is the latest move to deal with the migrant crisis in Europe.

Klaas Dijkhoff, Minister for Migration of the Netherlands and President of the Council welcomed the agreement.

"We urgently need an European Border and Coast Guard to strengthen our joined external borders in a structural way," said Dijkhoff. "With better border controls we have more control over migration streams and we enlarge the safety of our citizens. I'm satisfied that the member states and the European Parliament have made an effort to make sure that the European Border and Coast Guard can start as soon as possible."

The primary objective of the European Border and Coast Guard will be to ensure and implement, as a shared responsibility, the European integrated border management strategy at the external borders with a view to managing migration effectively and ensuring a high level of security within the EU, while safeguarding EU-internal free movement and fully respecting fundamental rights.