Frontex is the European Agency for Border and Coast Guard. The name is derived from the French frontières extéruers. Founded in 2004, the agency is based in Warsaw. Its main task is to control the external borders of the EU. It works in close cooperation with the member states of the Union. Because of the introduction of ETIAS, the EU wants to increase the number of staff from the current 1200 to 10 000 by 2027.
The importance of FRONTEX for the Schengen area
Frontex and ETIAS want to make the borders of the Schengen area more secure. The aim is to make entry into the Schengen area as easy as possible. The increase in staff will help to reduce waiting times at the borders as much as possible.
Like ETIAS, FRONTEX staff will be able to access the security systems within the EU. This makes it easier for them to identify and respond to threats in a coordinated way.
FRONTEX has been designed as a concept of rapid deployment for border security purposes. This means that if staff are needed, Member States can request them. With the current staffing levels, this is somewhat problematic. This was demonstrated, for example, in 2011 on the Greek-Turkish border. Many people poured into the Schengen area there, so Frontex was working to full capacity. The disadvantage was even more evident in the refugee crisis in 2015, when the EU Parliament decided to strengthen the rights of FRONZEX as early as 2011. The agency is now able to order equipment and request border guards independently.
Securing the external borders is an important goal of common European policy
Even before the introduction of ETIAS, securing the external borders is an important objective. The Schengen area does not want to seal off its borders. Everyone who wants to visit the country or seeks help should be able to get it within the bounds of possibility. However, the aim is to prevent people with terrorist or criminal intentions from crossing the borders. FRONTEX has fulfilled this task in the past and will continue to do so.
ETIAS now adds a new element. This does not make the work of FRONTEX useless, but complements it.
Every traveller from certain countries who wishes to cross the borders of the Schengen area as a tourist or business traveller must submit an ESTA application. This takes a short time, and the border officials know that this person can enter without hesitation. Nevertheless, FRONTEX staff have the possibility of rejecting a traveller. If the border official feels that this traveller could pose a threat to the internal security of the Schengen area, he or she will refuse entry.
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Frontex is the European Agency for Border and Coast Guard. The name is derived from the French frontières extéruers. Founded in 2004, the agency is based in Warsaw. Its main task is to control the external borders of the EU. It works in close cooperation with the member states of the Union. Because of the introduction of ETIAS, the EU wants to increase the number of staff from the current 1200 to 10 000 by 2027.
The importance of FRONTEX for the Schengen area
Frontex and ETIAS want to make the borders of the Schengen area more secure. The aim is to make entry into the Schengen area as easy as possible. The increase in staff will help to reduce waiting times at the borders as much as possible.
Like ETIAS, FRONTEX staff will be able to access the security systems within the EU. This makes it easier for them to identify and respond to threats in a coordinated way.
FRONTEX has been designed as a concept of rapid deployment for border security purposes. This means that if staff are needed, Member States can request them. With the current staffing levels, this is somewhat problematic. This was demonstrated, for example, in 2011 on the Greek-Turkish border. Many people poured into the Schengen area there, so Frontex was working to full capacity. The disadvantage was even more evident in the refugee crisis in 2015, when the EU Parliament decided to strengthen the rights of FRONZEX as early as 2011. The agency is now able to order equipment and request border guards independently.
Securing the external borders is an important goal of common European policy
Even before the introduction of ETIAS, securing the external borders is an important objective. The Schengen area does not want to seal off its borders. Everyone who wants to visit the country or seeks help should be able to get it within the bounds of possibility. However, the aim is to prevent people with terrorist or criminal intentions from crossing the borders. FRONTEX has fulfilled this task in the past and will continue to do so.
ETIAS now adds a new element. This does not make the work of FRONTEX useless, but complements it.
Every traveller from certain countries who wishes to cross the borders of the Schengen area as a tourist or business traveller must submit an ESTA application. This takes a short time, and the border officials know that this person can enter without hesitation. Nevertheless, FRONTEX staff have the possibility of rejecting a traveller. If the border official feels that this traveller could pose a threat to the internal security of the Schengen area, he or she will refuse entry.