European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) - Main contents

The European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX)

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  coordinates operational cooperation between Member States in the field of management of external borders; assists Member States in the training of national border guards, including the establishment of common training standards;
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  carries out risk analyses; follows up the development of research relevant for the control and surveillance of external borders; assists Member States in circumstances requiring increased technical and operational assistance at external borders;
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  provides Member States with the necessary support in organising joint return operations. FRONTEX was established in 2005.

FRONTEX liaises closely with other Community and EU partners responsible for the security of the external borders, such as EUROPOL, CEPOL, OLAF, the customs cooperation and the cooperation on phyto-sanitary and veterinary controls, in order to promote overall coherency.

FRONTEX strengthens border security by ensuring the coordination of Member States’ actions in the implementation of Community measures relating to the management of the external borders.

In 2016, the decision was made to expand and rename FRONTEX into the European Border and Coast Guard, comprising its own contingent of border guards. The proposal has been approved by the European Council and the European Parliament. On October 6 2016, the Border and Coast Guard started to operate in its renewed form.