Memo: EUROSUR: new tools to save migrants’ lives at sea and fight cross-border crime

The European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) aims at increasing coordination within and between Member States to reinforce border surveillance, prevent and tackle serious crime, such as drug trafficking and the trafficking of human beings. EUROSUR also aims to make a serious contribution to the protection and saving of lives of migrants trying to reach European shores by sea and thus will help to diminish the unacceptable death toll.

Under the EUROSUR mechanism, Member States' authorities responsible for border surveillance (border guards, coast guards, police, customs and navies) will be able to exchange operational information and cooperate with each other, with Frontex and with neighbouring countries to fight serious crime and to intervene to save lives at sea. The use of the EUROSUR tools is strictly conditioned to the respect of fundamental rights and in particular the principle of non refoulement.

European Commission: Rapid: MEMO/13/580: Commissioner Malmström welcomes LIBE Committee vote on EUROSUR http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-580_en.htm

---