FAQ
Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, supports EU Member States and Schengen Associated Countries in managing the EU’s external borders and fighting cross-border crime. With the newly created standing corps, Europe’s first uniformed service, Frontex is present in the places where European countries need support, working together with them for a safer, more secure Europe.
Frontex also works closely with a variety of international organisations and bodies, including United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), ICMPD and others.
See here for the full list of our EU partners and for the list of international organisations with whom Frontex has signed working arrangements.
Frontex also cooperates with a number of organisations and NGOs which are part of its Consultative Forum – more information is available here.
Frontex was created in 2004. Since then the mandate of the agency has been expanded twice: in 2016, when it became Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and in 2019, which paved the way for the creation of the first European uniformed service – the European Border and Coast Guard standing corps. For more information, go here.
The agency reports on its activities to the European Parliament and the Council in accordance with the Regulation, and these two institutions are actively involved in the agency’s work, exercising supervision. For example, the agency’s Management Board is obliged to share Frontex’ annual activity report and annual/multiannual work programs with the European Parliament and the Council, who may choose to invite the executive director to report on his tasks and any matter related to the activities of the agency. Furthermore, both institutions exercise financial supervision over the agency’s budget and are informed about any substantial additional financial needs/requirement of staff due to a border situation. Another example could be the obligation of Frontex to inform the European Parliament of working arrangements concluded with Union institutions, bodies, offices, agencies and international organisations. The agency is also obliged to inform the European Parliament before working arrangements are concluded with authorities of third countries. Moreover, as defined in the founding Regulation of Frontex, the agency submits to the European Parliament and the Council general risk analyses and, at least once a year, transmits the results of the vulnerability assessment. Frontex is also accountable to national border guard authorities sitting on the agency’s Management Board.
Yes, it does. For the first time, the European Union has its own uniformed service – the European Border and Coast Guard standing corps. This new border corps, composed of Frontex and EU Member States’ officers, is at any time able to support the Member States facing challenges at their external borders.
The standing corps, EU’s first uniformed service, is composed of Frontex and EU Member States’ officers. Their main task is to support national authorities facing challenges at their external borders. Standing corps members share many of the powers of national border guards. They can verify a person’s identity and nationality, allow or refuse entry into the EU and patrol between border crossing points.