Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, considers respect for and the protection of fundamental rights to be an unconditional and essential component of effective integrated border management. The agency strictly adheres to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as well as relevant international law.
Fundamental rights are integrated into the Frontex Codes of Conduct, the Common Core Curricula for border guards, and more specialised training, such as courses designed specifically for sea or land border surveillance officers or forced return monitors. These raise understanding of fundamental rights and enable officers to identify potential violations.
Before they are deployed, all Frontex staff, as well as board guards and members of other relevant authorities from Member States that participate in Frontex operations receive training on fundamental rights, access to international protection, and, where appropriate, search and rescue. Fundamental rights are always included in operational briefings for officers deployed by Frontex. In addition, safeguards and obligations for reporting potential violations of fundamental rights are integrated into all operational plans.
Following the 2011 amendments to the Frontex
Regulation, a Fundamental Rights Officer and a Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights
were created and embedded into Frontex’s structure.