European Border and Coast Guard system

Briefing 09-06-2016

On 15 December 2015, the European Commission put forward a proposal to set up a European Border and Coast Guard System (EBCGS), building on the mandate and experience of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex). The main new elements are: introduction of a supervisory role and a 'right to intervene' in situations at the border requiring urgent action; expansion of Frontex's operational tasks and its prerogatives on processing personal data; and reinforcement of fundamental rights and transparency safeguards. Commentators and stakeholders have raised concerns on respect of national sovereignty and division of competences, the adequacy of the suggested individual complaint mechanism and the accountability of operational activities at the external borders. Many underline that the reinforcement of the Frontex mandate should be accompanied by a change in the current EU Dublin system and an upgrade of Member States' border management capacities. Parliament and Council have now started trilogue discussions, with the aim of reaching a first-reading agreement before summer 2016. A more recent edition of this document is available. Find it by searching by the document title at this address: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/home.html