Answer given by Ms Johansson on behalf of the European Commission
30.4.2021
1. The Commission has been continuously and constructively supporting the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). This support has taken place in direct encounters with the Executive Director and the Agency’s staff, in the deliberations of Frontex’s Management Board as well as in discussions with Member States in the Council and with the European Parliament. This support has been granted in particular with the objective to ensure legally compliant implementation of Regulation (EU) 2019/1896[1] (‘the Frontex Regulation’).
2. An effective protection of the external borders is needed to implement the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. Frontex, together with the Member States’ border guard authorities, implement European integrated border management and contribute to the effective application of the Schengen acquis, in accordance with their respective functions and always in full respect of fundamental rights.
Frontex deploys officers who conduct interviews with migrants that may disclose information on operations of smuggling networks. In this context, the Agency is authorised, subject to the requirements laid down in the Frontex Regulation, to share information relating to cross-border crime with the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the national law enforcement authorities of Member States. Frontex carries out risk analysis on all aspects of integrated border management, provides advice on operational responses to various challenges at the EU external borders, including cross-border crime. In addition, Frontex supports the fight against document fraud and contributes to operational actions against irregular migration and illegal border crossings.
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2019 on the European Border and Coast Guard and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1052/2013 and (EU) 2016/1624 (OJ L 295, 14.11.2019, p. 1).