MEPs back plans to pool policing of EU external borders

The European Parliament's plenary session endorsed on 6 July 2016 plans to set up an EU border control system, bringing together the Frontex border agency and national border management authorities.

Under these plans, national authorities still manage their borders on a day-to-day basis but, if their EU external borders are under pressure, they can seek help from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (EBCG), to rapidly deploy pooled border guard teams to those borders.

The proposal was put forward by the European Commission in December 2015. In April 2016, the Council of the European Union agreed its negotiating position, followed by the European Parliament in May. On 21 June, the two sides reached an informal agreement, which was confirmed by the Council on the next day.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: European Border and Coast Guard system http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-border-and-coast-guard-system-2/

ESO: Background information: European Border and Coast Guard Agency http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-border-and-coast-guard-agency/

BBC News, 06.07.16: EU coast guard and border force approved by parliament http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36727437

Sputnik International, 06.07.16: EU Parliament Agrees to Set Up Joint Border, Coast Guard http://sptnkne.ws/bCrR

Kathimerini, 06.07.16: EU parliament backs new border force http://www.ekathimerini.com/210207/article/ekathimerini/news/eu-parliament-backs-new-border-force

Frontex: News, 06.07.16: Frontex welcomes European Parliament vote on European Border and Coast Guard http://frontex.europa.eu/news/frontex-welcomes-european-parliament-vote-on-european-border-and-coast-guard-tQmLpF

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: STATEMENT/16/2431, 06.07.16: Joint Statement on the adoption by the European Parliament of the Commission's proposal for the creation of a European Border and Coast Guard http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-16-2431_en.htm

European Parliament: Article, 06.07.16: EU borders: 'No-one is abolishing a member state's responsibility to defend its borders' http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20160701STO34394/

EurActiv, 07.07.16: Super-Frontex approved, acclaimed and decried http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/super-frontex-approved-acclaimed-and-decried/

EurActiv, 12.07.16: New EU border guard plans migration ‘stress tests’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/new-eu-border-guard-plans-migration-stress-tests/

EUObserver, 11.07.16: New EU border agency to 'stress test' member states https://euobserver.com/migration/134303

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