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    • Split hosts first European Coast Guard exercise

    2016-10-11

    Fabrice Leggeri, Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, together with the Croatian Minister of Interior Vlaho Orepič and Minister of Defence Josip Buljevič, hosted the first European Coast Guard exercise on 11 October in Split, Croatia.

    The exercise, which simulated an operation involving the rescue of irregular migrants at an external maritime border was testing operational coordination between maritime border police and the Croatian Navy and Coast Guard.

    The European Border and Coast Guard Agency was officially launched last week. It has been built on the foundations of Frontex, which has been coordinating operations at the external EU borers for more than a decade. The concept of European Border and Coast Guard comprises the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and national authorities responsible for border management, including coast guard. 

    “The words ‘coast guard’ in the name of our agency emphasises its strong maritime dimension. This exercise is an example of cooperation between different services and is significant because Europe is seeking to improve coordination between different authorities at the maritime borders,” said Fabrice Leggeri.

    “Let’s remember that during this exercise and in real life saving lives at sea is always a first priority. Frontex saved more than 150 000 people last year and over 77 000 this year. To reflect this the mandate of the new agency now also includes search and rescue,” he added.

    The European Border and Coast Guard Agency will support the cooperation of different maritime law enforcement and security services, EU agencies and customs. Vessels and aircraft deployed in its operations will collect and share information relevant not only to border control but also to fisheries control, detection of pollution and compliance with other maritime regulations.  These multipurpose operations will be carried out in coordination with other European agencies.

    The new maritime component of the agency’s mandate will be officially launched during the dedicated European Coast Guard Cooperation Network meeting on 8 and 9 November in Warsaw.