‘Trust in Frontex’: The 2013 work programme

Abstract:

This analysis examines the main points of the EU’s border management agency Frontex’s 2013 work programme and the first work programme of the Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights. Despite what Frontex deems 'budgetary restrictions', the agency’s €86m budget remains one of the biggest of EU’s Justice and Home Affairs agencies, roughly equivalent to Europol’s. Frontex’s priorities in 2013 will not differ much from 2012 with operational activity still the priority. Frontex Executive Director Ilkka Laitinen told the European Parliament’s LIBE Committee on 7 March 2013 that operational expenses would account for 77% of the budget.

The Agency’s capacities will continue to be geared towards sea borders operations, border surveillance and the prospect of further cooperation with third countries and Eurojust. Narratives on 'non-genuine' asylum-seekers and the risks inherent to visa liberalisation also crop up in the new work programme. Despite the Agency’s new decision-making capacities and increased potential to launch operations in the EU and beyond, it is striking that the new Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights is only mentioned once in the work programme.

In April 2012, Statewatch reported on the serious concerns regarding the absence of any satisfactory human rights safeguards and independent reporting mechanisms in relation to Frontex’s work and operations. The Greens/European Free Alliance in the European Parliament, who abstained from the voting on the amended Regulation, feared that human rights would remain 'an afterthought for the EU's border agency'.

The 2013 work programmes of the Agency and the Consultative Forum may well confirm these fears.