European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s reinforced mandate now in force

Today, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s reinforced mandate enters into force, giving it the operational capacity and powers needed to effectively support the 115,000 Member States’ officers on the ground. Starting from January 2021, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency will be equipped with its own standing corps of border guards ready to be deployed wherever and whenever needed. The standing corps should reach its full capacity of 10,000 border guards by 2024. Under the new Regulation coming into force today, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency has a stronger mandate on returns and will be able to cooperate more closely with non-EU countries, including those beyond the EU’s immediate neighbourhood, subject to the conclusion of an agreement with the countries concerned. Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, said: “All our efforts are now focused on ensuring the swift roll-out of the standing corps and helping the agency quickly take up its new tasks, so that it can assist Member States on the ground, constantly, reliably and in a spirit of solidarity. European borders are a matter of common concern and I am happy we are gearing up to manage them in a more European way.” Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson,added:“Preparations for the roll-out of the standing corps are well underway, with a clear roadmap already prepared and endorsed, and an ongoing recruitment campaign for border guards launched by the Agency. In the implementation of the reinforced Agency, protection of fundamental rights will be a priority.”