Today, Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri has called
for the creation of an evaluation committee to consider legal questions related
to the Agency’s surveillance of external sea borders and accommodating the
concerns raised by Member States about “hybrid threats” affecting their national security
at external borders where the European Border and Coast Guard Agency will
deploy its standing corps.
Under the Frontex proposal, the committee would be coordinated
by the European Commission with the participation of Member States on a
volunteer basis. It would address various questions, in particular those related
to Regulation 2014/656 in the light of the current operational situation.
Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri also expressed the
Agency’s continued commitment to highest standards of protection of fundamental
rights.
“Any allegation of misconduct or infringement of
international treaties or fundamental rights in the framework of joint
operations coordinated by Frontex is treated with grave concern and carefully
investigated,” said Fabrice Leggeri.
“I am committed to reinforce the office of the Fundamental
Rights Officer and to gradually increase its budget,” he added.
Leggeri also proposed that the Frontex Fundamental Rights
Officer to play a bigger role in raising awareness of the operational officers
on the legal requirements that they need to apply on everyday basis in the
field.
“This could apply not only to the Frontex-deployed staff,
but also to the staff of the International Coordination Centres, who often play
an essential part in deciding to react to complicated events,” Leggeri said.
