Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard

What it is

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted a report by Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Border and Coast Guard and repealing Council Joint Action n°98/700/JHA, Regulation (EU) n° 1052/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EU) n° 2016/1624 of the European Parliament and of the Council The committee recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission's proposal. The proposed amendments aim to strengthen the proposal by increasing the effectiveness of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, as well as its efficiency and accountability, while respecting the competence of the Member States. The European Border and Coast Guard seeks to ensure European Integrated Border Management at the external borders of the Union with a view to supporting the capacity of Member States to manage those borders efficiently, ensuring the saving of lives of persons in distress, as well as ensuring compliance with fundamental rights and increasing the efficiency of the common return policy. It addresses migratory and security challenges and potential future challenges and threats at the external borders and the pre-frontier area. The European Parliament adopted by 403 votes to 162 with 44 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Border and Coast Guard and repealing Council Joint Action n°98/700/JHA, Regulation (EU) n° 1052/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EU) n° 2016/1624 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Parliament’s position adopted in first reading following the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission’s proposal as follows: The Regulation establishes a European Border and Coast Guard to ensure European Integrated Border Management with a view to managing the external borders as well as increasing the efficiency of the common return policy. This Regulation addresses migratory challenges and potential future challenges and threats at the external borders and ensures a high level of internal security within the Union in full respect for fundamental rights, while safeguarding the free movement of persons within the Union. It contributes to the detection, prevention and combating of cross-border crime at the external borders. The European Border and Coast Guard (Frontex) will include a standing corps of border and coast guards, composed of the following four categories of staff: Category 1: operational staff members of the Agency employed in accordance with the Regulation and deployed as team members in operational areas as well as staff responsible for the functioning of the ETIAS Central Unit; Category 2: operational staff seconded from Member States to the Agency for a long term duration as part of the standing corps; Category 3: operational staff from Member States ready to be provided to the Agency for a short term deployment as part of the standing corps; Category 4: the Reserve…

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