EUROPEAN COMMISSION Strasbourg, 15.12.2015 COM(2015) 671 final 2015/0310(COD) Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the European Border and Coast Guard

and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004, Regulation (EC) No 863/2007 and Council Decision 2005/267/EC



EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL •Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The present proposal has the objective of setting up a European Border and Coast Guard in order to ensure a European integrated border management of the EU’s external borders, with a view to managing migration effectively and ensuring a high level of security within the Union, while safeguarding the free movement of persons therein. It is part of a package of measures presented by the Commission in order to better ensure the protection of the EU’s external borders as set out in the accompanying Commission Communication. In 2015, the European Union witnessed extraordinary pressures at its external borders with an estimated 1,5 million persons having crossed the borders illegally between January and November this year. The sheer scale of the mixed migratory flows which have crossed the external borders of the European Union and the consequent secondary movements, demonstrated that existing structures at Union and Member State level are inadequate to address the challenges arising from such a large influx. In an area without internal borders, irregular migration through the external borders of one Member State affects all other Member States within the Schengen area. The significant secondary movements have led several Member States to reintroduce border control at their internal borders. This has put considerable strain on the functioning and coherence of the Schengen area. Throughout the current migration crisis, it became clear that the Schengen area without internal borders is only sustainable if the external borders are effectively secured and protected. The control of the Union’s external borders is a common and shared interest which must be carried out in accordance with high and uniform Union standards. The intensified security concerns following the terrorist attacks of this year have added to citizens’ concerns. Whilst borders can never provide complete security, they can make a significant contribution in terms of increasing security and intelligence and thwarting future attacks. This function has become even more important in the light of the increasing phenomenon of foreign fighters involved in terrorist attacks. Reinforcing security at the external borders is therefore essential to restoring public confidence. A single travel area without internal borders is only sustainable if the external borders are effectively protected. A chain is always only as strong as its weakest link. A decisive step towards an integrated management system for external borders therefore is needed. This is only possible as a shared task among all Member States, in line with the principles of solidarity and responsibility to which all the EU’s institutions have agreed as the guiding principles addressing the migration crisis. The European Agenda on Migration identified the need to move to a shared management of the external borders, in line with the objective of the ‘gradual introduction of an integrated management system for external borders’ set out in Article 77 TFEU. In his State of the Union speech in September, President Juncker announced that the Commission would present ambitious steps in this respect before the end of the year in the form of a fully operational European Border and Coast Guard, as was subsequently confirmed in the Commission Work Programme 2016. The draft Regulation lays down the general principles of European integrated border management; it establishes a European Border and Coast Guard and a European Border and Coast Guard Agency built from Frontex. The objective of this draft Regulation is to provide for a more integrated management of the EU’s external borders, inter alia by providing the European Border and Coast Guard Agency with more competences in the fields of external border management and return than Frontex currently has. This draft Regulation affords the European Border and Coast Guard Agency the additional competences needed for it to effectively implement integrated border management at Union level, to address deficiencies of border management at national level, and to respond to unprecedented migratory flows such as those which have arrived at the external borders of the European Union this year. Granting these additional competences to the European level of the European Border and Coast Guard is essential to prevent that deficiencies of external border management or unpredicted migratory flows undermine the proper functioning of the Schengen area. The challenges which have arisen from the migratory crisis cannot be adequately dealt with by Member States acting in an uncoordinated manner. Integrated border management is a shared responsibility of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the national authorities responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks, and together they constitute the European Border and Coast Guard. •Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area This draft Regulation responds to the calls of the European Parliament and the European Council to effectively manage the external borders of the European Union. Clear orientations were set out by the European Council in October 2015 to strengthen the external borders of the European Union namely by working towards the establishment of an integrated management system for the external borders and by enhancing the mandate of Frontex in the context of discussions over the development of a European Border and Coast Guard System, including as regards the deployment of Rapid Border Intervention Teams in cases where Schengen evaluations or risk analysis demonstrate the need for robust and prompt action, in cooperation with the Member State concerned. The European Council also considered that the mandate of Frontex on return should be expanded to include the right to organise joint return operations on its own initiative, and enhance its role regarding the acquisition of travel documents for returnees. In the European Agenda on Migration, the Commission proposed to make the management of the external borders into shared responsibility of the Member States and the European Union. On this basis, the European Agenda on Migration proposed changes to the legal basis of Frontex so as to strengthen its role and capacity. Among the other suggested steps to be taken by the Commission was the foundation of a European Border and Coast Guard, an increased role for the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the organisation and coordination of returns, inter-agency cooperation, better management of Agency and Member State assets and the initiation of the new ‘hotspot’ approach. With this draft Regulation, the Commission contributes to rendering border management more effective and reliable by bringing it to a new level of responsibility and solidarity. Over the past few years, the European Union established a policy to enable Member States to build and maintain sound external borders. However, in the absence of strategic implementation of integrated border management at Union level, there are discrepancies in implementation that still remain at national level among Member States. Hence, there is a need, as identified by the Commission in the European Agenda on Migration, to have Union standards for border management to cover all aspects of the Union’s external border management. This proposal builds on the existing border management policy, including the Frontex Agency but brings it to a qualitatively different level. Frontex was established by Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 which was subsequently amended by Regulation (EC) 863/2007, which introduced the rapid border interventions, and by Regulation (EU) No 1168/2011, which highlighted the responsibility of Frontex as regards the protection of fundamental rights. This proposal substantially expands upon the ability of the Agency to respond effectively to present or future threats at the external borders by proactively reinforcing, assessing, and coordinating the actions of Member States in the implementation of appropriate measures at the external borders. The proposal complements existing legislation by following a similar approach as the one on the European Border Surveillance System (Eurosur) in further fostering a spirit of cooperation, information exchange and the coordination of efforts between the Member States and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, as well as among national authorities and Union Agencies, with concrete and binding commitments. It also builds upon Regulation (EU) No 656/2014 establishing rules for the surveillance of the external sea borders in the context of operational cooperation coordinated by Frontex. The proposal also develops and reinforces the rapid border interventions. The proposal, and in particular the establishment of a vulnerability assessment, complements the Schengen evaluation mechanism established by Regulation (EU) No 1053/2013. The Schengen evaluation mechanism is intended to maintain mutual trust among Member States. It consists of a technical and legal assessment intended to verify the correct application of the Schengen acquis and the necessary conditions for the lifting of internal border control. In cases where it results from a Schengen evaluation that there are serious deficiencies at the external border, the Commission may recommend initiating the deployment of European Border and Coast Guard Teams or presenting strategic plans to the Agency for its opinion. The present proposal is also without prejudice to the measures which may be adopted under Article 19a and 26 of the Schengen Borders Code. The vulnerability assessment focuses on prevention so as to avoid reaching a crisis situation. It is an assessment of the operational capabilities of Member States at the external borders and for this purpose it looks into the technical equipment, capacities, resources and contingency plans. That assessment is carried out by the Agency, the Supervisory Board advises the Executive Director, who in turn decides on the necessary measures. Where a Member State would fail to comply with the decision of the Executive Director and as a result it would risk putting in jeopardy the functioning of the Schengen area, the Commission can adopt an implementing decision requiring the direct intervention by the Agency on the ground.

This proposal builds upon and further develops those existing policy provisions and brings them together in the European Border and Coast Guard, thus establishing an integrated management system for external borders at Union level as provided for in Article 77(2)(d) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. •Consistency with other Union policies This proposal is closely linked and complements other Union policies, namely: (a)The Common European Asylum System with the setting up of migration management support teams at hotspot areas which is closely linked to the relocation of persons in clear need of international protection; (b)Internal security as was underlined in the European Agenda on Security, common high standards of border management are essential to prevent cross-border crime and terrorism; this proposal further contributes to achieving a high level of internal security by enabling the Agency to cover aspects of cross-border crime and terrorism in its risk analysis, by enabling it to process personal data of persons suspected to be involved in acts of terrorism and by providing that the Agency cooperates with other Union Agencies and international organisations on the prevention of terrorism. As regards access to national databases and European databases, the draft Regulation provides for an obligation for Member States to allow access to members of the European Border and Coast Guard Teams to such databases. The Commission will explore the possibility of giving the Agency access to European databases, such as SIS and EURODAC, and will consider presenting proposals to modify the legal acts on which these databases are based; (c)The Union Customs Risk Management and Supply Chain Security Strategy, which provides for promoting inter-agency cooperation and information sharing among customs, law enforcement and security agencies to ensure complementarity of roles, the development of common risk criteria and sharing of risk information; (d)Maritime security and safety, as well as maritime surveillance with the establishment of European cooperation on coast guard functions among the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, the European Fisheries Control Agency and the European Maritime Safety Agency; (e)External relations policy of the Union given that the European Border and Coast Guard Agency should facilitate and encourage operational cooperation between Member States and third countries, including by coordinating such operational cooperation in the field of management of external borders and by deploying liaison officers to third countries, as well as by cooperating with the authorities of third countries on return, including as regards the acquisition of travel documents. 2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY •Legal basis This legislative proposal is based on Article 77(2)(b) and (d) and Article 79(2)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Article 77(1)(b) and (d) provides that the Union shall develop a policy with a view to carrying out checks on persons and efficient monitoring of the crossing of external borders, and the gradual introduction of an integrated management system for external borders. For those purposes, under Article 77(2)(b) and (d), the European Parliament and the Council acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, shall adopt measures concerning the checks to which persons crossing external borders are subject, and any measure necessary for the gradual establishment of an integrated management system for external borders. Article 79(2)(c) authorises the European Parliament and the Council to adopt measures in the area of irregular immigration and unauthorised residence, including removal and repatriation of persons residing without authorisation. •Subsidiarity The objective of this proposal is to ensure a European integrated border management of the EU’s external borders, with a view to managing migration effectively and ensuring a high level of security within the Union, while safeguarding the free movement of persons therein. In an area without internal borders, irregular migration through the external borders of one Member State affects all other Member States within the Schengen area. An area without internal borders is only sustainable if the external borders are effectively secured and protected. Since the control of the Union’s external borders is a common and shared interest which must be carried out in accordance with high and uniform Union standards, the objectives of this proposal cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Members States, and can be better accomplished at the level of the Union, the Union may adopt measures in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. •Proportionality The draft Regulation is intended to respond to the new challenges and political realities faced by the Union, both as regards migration management and internal security. It puts in place a tool box of measures to deal with border management comprehensively. It ensures that rules on integrated border management are fully and correctly implemented by Member States, that appropriate action is taken to prevent crisis situations and to intervene at an early stage at the external borders, and it is only if the situation still becomes critical, that urgent action is taken at Union level for direct intervention on the ground. In view of its objectives and in accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives. •Choice of the instrument Only a regulation can provide for the necessary degree of uniformity required for ensuring the integrated management of the external borders. Moreover, having regard to the fact that the Frontex Agency, renamed European Border and Coast Guard Agency, was established by means of a Regulation, the same legal instrument is also appropriate for this proposal.

3.CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES In preparation of this proposal, the Commission has relied upon the discussions that have been regularly taking place in the European Council and in the Council of Ministers, as well as in the European Parliament on border management and the measures needed to address the migratory crisis. The future of border management and, in particular, the reinforcement of the Frontex Agency has recently been the subject of discussion in the Council of Ministers meeting of 8 October 2015. This was followed by a meeting of the European Council on 15 October 2015, which in its orientations on the future of border management, called for the strengthening of the external borders of the European Union by, amongst others, working towards the establishment of an integrated management system for external borders and by enhancing the mandate of Frontex. Since Frontex took up its responsibilities on 1 May 2005, there have been continued discussions with relevant stakeholders at European and national level. In particular, there have been regular discussions in the context of reporting by the Agency in the European Parliament and in the Council. The Agency continuously reports on its activities at the Management Board meetings and through various reports it issues during the year. There have also been regular information exchanges with other Union Agencies in particular the European Asylum Support Office, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, and Europol, as well as with the European Ombudsman. Also, several discussions have been organised with civil society and academia. In 2014, the Commission launched a Study on the feasibility of the creation of a European System of Border Guards to control the external borders of the Union, the results of which were taken into account in the preparation of this proposal. The Commission has made sure to also take into account the views of relevant stakeholders by closely considering the results of the external evaluation of the Frontex Agency. This external evaluation, based on Article 33 of Regulation (EU) No 2007/2004, was carried out between July 2014 and June 2015, and covers the period from July 2008 to July 2014. The final report was discussed in the Management Board of Frontex on 10 September 2015, and the Management Board has issued recommendations regarding possible modifications to the founding Regulation of Frontex. This proposal reflects the majority of recommendations made by decision of the Management Board on 28 October 2015. The Commission has also taken into account the Report of the European Parliament on the Special Report of the European Ombudsman in own-initiative inquiry OI/5/2012/BEH-MHZ concerning Frontex in developing a complaint mechanism for the Agency. •Fundamental rights This Regulation respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Articles 18 and 19. This proposal safeguards fundamental rights by setting out the need for the European Border and Coast Guard Agency to have a Fundamental Rights Strategy, by establishing a Consultative Forum on fundamental rights, by providing for an expanded role for the Fundamental Rights Officer and by including a complaint mechanism by which any person who considers himself or herself to have been the subject of a breach of fundamental rights during activities carried out by the Agency, or any third party intervener, may make a complaint to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The proposal is thus in line with Articles 2 and 6 of the Treaty on European Union and with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. 4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS The European Border and Coast Guard Agency, to be built from the existing Frontex, is tasked with the management of the external borders alongside the Member States. The subsidy for Frontex, which is to be renamed European Border and Coast Guard Agency, already forms part of the Union’s budget. The Agency’s budgets for 2015 and 2016 have been reinforced in 2015 in order to enable it to address the migratory crisis, in particular by tripling the financial resources for joint operations Poseidon and Triton, extending the Agency’s support to the Member States in the area of returns and giving to necessary resources to implement hotspots. The final EU subsidy for 2016 as adopted by the Budgetary Authority is EUR 238 686 000. Given the necessity that the Agency continues with its work in external border management at the same level of intensity, including as regards search and rescue and in the area of return, it is essential that in the future the level of the 2016 subsidy is maintained as the basis for the annual budget of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. However, for the Agency to adequately address its new tasks as foreseen in this proposal, in 2017 an amount of at least EUR 31,5 million will need to be added to the Agency’s Union budget in addition to that one for 2016 and an additional 602 posts until 2020 together with the corresponding financial resources are necessary, including 329 establishment plan posts and 273 external staff. 5.OTHER ELEMENTS •Monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements The European Border and Coast Guard Agency has a number of duties to report upon its activities and to monitor its work. Most importantly the Agency must compile a consolidated annual activity report which is to include an evaluation of joint operations and rapid border interventions. The Commission must conduct an evaluation in accordance with its guidelines every three years to assess the impact, effectiveness and efficiency of the Agency in all of its activities. The evaluation’s findings must be forwarded by the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the Management Board of the Agency. These findings are to be made public. Furthermore, the European Parliament or the Council can also invite the Executive Director of the Agency to report to those institutions as to the carrying out of his or her tasks. •Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal This proposal lays down the general principles for a European integrated border management with the objective of managing migration effectively and ensuring a high level of internal security within the European Union, whilst safeguarding the free movement of persons within the European Union.

European integrated border management consists of measures in third countries, measures implemented in conjunction with neighbouring third countries, border control measures at the external border and measures implemented inside the area of free movement including the return of third country nationals who illegally stay in a Member State. This proposal establishes the European Border and Coast Guard which is responsible for integrated border management and, in comparison to the mandate afforded to Frontex, enhances the European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s powers in all aspects of integrated border management. The European Border and Coast Guard is composed of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the national authorities which are responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks. The task of the European Border and Coast Guard is to implement the European integrated border management in accordance with the principle of shared responsibility. Since all national border guards, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks, implement the European integrated border management, they are European Border and Coast Guards at the same time as they are national border guards and coast guards. To reflect the changes to the competences of Frontex, the Agency is to be renamed European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The key role of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency is to establish an operational and technical strategy for the implementation of an integrated border management at Union level, to oversee the effective functioning of border control at the external borders of Member States, to carry out vulnerability assessments and to ensure that deficiencies in the management of the external border by national authorities are addressed, to provide increased operational and technical assistance to Member States through joint operations and rapid border interventions, and to ensure the practical execution of measures in case of a situation requiring urgent action at the external borders, as well as to organise, coordinate and conduct return operations and return interventions. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency will need to have a broad and effective overview to be able to determine whether a Member State is able to implement applicable EU legislation, and to determine whether there are weaknesses in the border management of a Member State so as to avoid that increases in migration flows lead to serious problems at the external borders. For these purposes, this proposal sets outs out the following elements reinforcing the role of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, as compared to that of Frontex: Establishing a monitoring and risk analysis centre with the capacity to monitor migratory flows towards and within the European Union and to carry out risk analysis which is to be applied by Member States and which covers all aspects relevant to integrated border management, in particular, border control, return, irregular secondary movements of third-country nationals with the European Union, the prevention of cross-border crime including facilitation of irregular immigration, trafficking in human beings and terrorism, as well as the situation at neighbouring third countries with a view to developing a pre-warning mechanism which analyses the migratory flows towards the EU. Liaison officers of the Agency to be deployed to Member States so that the Agency can ensure proper and effective monitoring not only through risk analysis, information exchange and Eurosur, but also through its presence on the ground. The task of the liaison officer is to foster cooperation between the Agency and the Member States and in particular, to support the collection of information required by the Agency for carrying out the vulnerability assessment and to monitor the measures taken by Member States at the external borders. Supervisory role for the Agency by establishing a mandatory vulnerability assessment by the Agency to assess the capacity of Member States to face challenges at their external borders, including by means of an assessment of the equipment and resources of Member States as well as of their contingency planning. The Executive Director, on the advice of a Supervisory Board created within the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, will identify the measures that need to be taken by the Member State concerned and should set a time-limit within which those measures need to be taken. The decision of the Executive Director will be binding on the Member State concerned, and where the necessary measures are not taken within the set time-limit, the matter will be referred to the Management Board for a further decision. If the Member State would still fail to act, thereby risking putting in jeopardy the functioning of the Schengen area, the Commission may adopt an implementing decision for direct intervention by the Agency. New procedures to deal with situations requiring urgent action where a Member State does not take the necessary corrective action in line with the vulnerability assessment or in the event of disproportionate migratory pressure at the external borders, rendering the control of the external borders ineffective to an extent that risks putting in jeopardy the functioning of the Schengen area. This will involve a Commission implementing decision identifying the measures to be implemented by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency as outlined in this Regulation and requiring the Member State concerned to cooperate with the Agency in the implementation of those measures. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency will then determine the actions needed to be taken for the practical execution of the measures indicated in the Commission decision, and it will intervene directly in the Member State concerned. Enhanced tasks for the Agency consisting of the setting up and deployment of European Border and Coast Guard Teams for joint operations and rapid border interventions, the setting up of a technical equipment pool, assisting the Commission in coordinating the activities of the migration management support teams at hotspot areas, and a strengthened role in return, risk analysis, training and research. Mandatory pooling of human resources by establishing a rapid reserve pool which will be a standing corps composed of a small percentage of the total number of border guards in the Member States on a yearly basis. The deployment of European Border and Coast Guard Teams from the rapid reserve pool should be immediately complemented by additional European Border and Coast Guard Teams as appropriate. Deployment of an own technical equipment pool by acquiring itself or in co-ownership with a Member State and managing a pool of technical equipment provided by the Member States, based on the needs identified by the Agency and by requiring that the technical equipment pool be completed by means of transport and operating equipment purchased by Member States under the Specific Actions of the Internal Security Fund. Key role in assisting the Commission with the coordination of migration management support teams at hotspot areas, characterised by mixed migratory flows and where the European Border and Coast Guard Agency together with the European Asylum Support Office, Europol and other relevant Union Agencies provides coordinated and enhanced technical and operational support to Member States. Stronger role for the Agency on return by establishing a Return Office within the Agency, which should provide Member States with all necessary operational reinforcement to effectively return illegally staying third country nationals. The Agency will coordinate and organise return operations and return interventions from one or more Member States, and promote their organisation on its own initiative to reinforce the return system of the Member States which are subject to particular pressure. The Agency will need to have at its disposal pools of forced return monitors, forced return escorts and return specialists to be made available by Member States, forming European Return Intervention Teams to be deployed in the Member States. Participation by the Agency in the management of research and innovation activities relevant for the control of external borders, including the use of advanced surveillance technology such as remotely piloted aircraft systems and develop pilot projects regarding matters covered by this Regulation. European cooperation on coast guard functions by developing cross-sectoral cooperation among the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, the European Fisheries Control Agency and the European Maritime Safety Agency to improve synergies between those agencies, in order to provide more efficient and cost-effective multipurpose services to national authorities carrying out coast guard functions. Increased cooperation with third countries by coordinating operational cooperation between Member States and third countries in border management, including the coordination of joint operations, and by deploying liaison officers to third countries, as well as by cooperating with the authorities of third countries on return, including as regards the acquisition of travel documents. Strengthen the mandate of the Agency to process personal data by also allowing for the processing of personal data in the organisation and coordination of joint operations, pilot projects, rapid border interventions, return operations, return interventions and in the framework of the migration management support teams, as well as in the exchange of information with Member States, the European Asylum Support Office, Europol, Eurojust or other Union Agencies. Guaranteeing the protection of fundamental rights by setting up a complaint mechanism to handle complaints concerning possible violations of fundamental rights in the course of activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The complaint mechanism is an administrative mechanism since the Agency cannot itself investigate allegations of violations of fundamental rights by members of the European Border and Coast Guard Teams. 2015/0310 (COD) Proposal for a

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the European Border and Coast Guard

and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004, Regulation (EC) No 863/2007 and Council Decision 2005/267/EC THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 77(2)(b) and (d) and Article 79(2)(c) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee, Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of Regions, Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, Whereas: (1)On 25 and 26 June 2015, the European Council called for wider efforts in resolving the migrant crisis in a comprehensive manner, including through the reinforcement of the management of borders to better manage growing mixed migratory flows. Furthermore, on 23 September 2015, the European Council stressed the need to tackle the dramatic situation at the external borders as well as to strengthen the controls at those borders, notably through additional resources for the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union, the European Asylum Support Office and Europol, with human resources and technical contributions from Member States. (2)The objective of Union policy in the field of external border management is to develop and implement European integrated border management at national and Union level, which is a necessary corollary to the free movement of persons within the Union and is a fundamental component of an area of freedom, security and justice. European integrated border management is central to improving migration management and ensuring a high level of internal security within the Union. (3)European integrated border management, based on the four-tier access model, comprises measures in third countries, such as under the common visa policy, measures with neighbouring third countries, border control measures at the external border itself as well as risk analysis, and measures within the area of free movement, including return. (4)To ensure the effective implementation of the European integrated border management, a European Border and Coast Guard should be established. The European Border and Coast Guard, which comprises the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and national authorities which are responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks, relies upon the common use of information, capabilities and systems at national level and the response of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency at Union level. (5)European integrated border management is a shared responsibility of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the national authorities responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks. While Member States retain the primary responsibility for the management of their section of the external borders in their interest and in the interest of all Member States which have abolished internal border control, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency should ensure the application of Union measures relating to the management of the external borders by reinforcing, assessing and coordinating the actions of Member States which implement those measures. (6)The development of the policy and legislation on external border control and return remains a responsibility of the Union institutions. Close coordination between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and those institutions should be guaranteed. (7)The European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union, commonly referred to as Frontex, was established by Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004. Since taking up its responsibilities on 1 May 2005, it has been successful in assisting Member States with implementing the operational aspects of external border management through joint operations and rapid border interventions, as well as risk analysis, information exchange, relations with third countries and the return of third-country nationals illegally staying on the territory of Member States. (8)Having regard to the increasing migratory pressures at the external borders, to the necessity of ensuring a high level of internal security within the Union and to safeguard the functioning of the Schengen area as well as the overarching principle of solidarity, it is necessary to reinforce the management of the external borders by building on the work of Frontex and further develop it into an Agency with a shared responsibility for the management of the external borders. (9)The tasks of Frontex should therefore be expanded and to reflect those changes, it should be renamed European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The key role of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency should be to establish an operational and technical strategy for the implementation of an integrated border management at Union level, to oversee the effective functioning of border control at the external borders, to provide increased operational and technical assistance to Member States through joint operations and rapid border interventions, and to ensure the practical execution of measures in case of a situation requiring urgent action at the external borders, as well as to organise, coordinate and conduct return operations and return interventions. (10)The European Border and Coast Guard Agency relies on the cooperation of Member States to be able to perform its tasks effectively. In this respect, it is important for the Agency and the Member States to act in good faith and to have a timely and accurate exchange of information.

(11)The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should prepare general and tailored risk analysis based on a common integrated risk analysis model, to be applied by the Agency itself and by Member States. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should, based also on information provided by Member States, provide adequate information and intelligence covering all aspects relevant to European integrated border management, especially border control, return, irregular secondary movements of third-country nationals within the Union, prevention of cross-border crime including facilitation of irregular immigration, trafficking in human beings and terrorism, as well as the situation at neighbouring third countries, so as to allow for appropriate measures to be taken or to tackle identified threats and risks with a view to improving the integrated management of external borders. (12)In a spirit of shared responsibility, the role of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency should be to regularly monitor the management of the external borders. The Agency should ensure proper and effective monitoring not only through risk analysis, information exchange and Eurosur, but also through presence of experts from its own staff in Member States. The Agency should therefore be able to deploy liaison officers to specific Member States for a period of time during which the liaison officer reports to the Executive Director. The report of the liaison officers should form part of the vulnerability assessment. (13)The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should carry out a vulnerability assessment to assess the capacity of the Member States to face challenges at their external borders, including by assessing the equipment and resources of Member States as well as their contingency plans to address possible crises at the external borders. Member States should take corrective action to address any deficiencies identified in that assessment. The Executive Director, on the advice of a Supervisory Board created within the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, should identify the measures to be taken by the Member State concerned and should set a time-limit within which those measures should be taken. That decision should be binding on that Member State and where the necessary measures are not taken within the set time-limit, the matter needs to be referred to the Management Board for a further decision. (14)The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should organise the appropriate technical and operational assistance to Member States so as to reinforce their capacity to implement their obligations with regard to the control of the external borders, and to face challenges at the external border resulting from irregular immigration or cross-border crime. In this respect, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency should, at the request of a Member State or on its own initiative, organise and coordinate joint operations for one or more Member States and deploy European Border and Coast Guard Teams as well as the necessary technical equipment, and it may deploy experts from its own staff. (15)In cases where there is a specific and disproportionate pressure at the external borders, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency should, at the request of a Member State or on its own initiative, organise and coordinate rapid border interventions and deploy European Border and Coast Guard Teams from a rapid reserve pool as well as technical equipment. Rapid border interventions should provide reinforcement in situations where immediate response is required and where such an intervention would provide an effective response. To ensure the effective operation of such intervention, Member States should make border guards and other relevant staff available to the rapid reserve pool. (16)At particular areas of the external borders where Member States face disproportionate migratory pressures characterised by large influxes of mixed migratory flows, referred to as hotspot areas, the Member States should be able to rely on the increased operational and technical reinforcement by the migration management support teams composed of teams of experts deployed from Member States by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the European Asylum Support Office, and from Europol or other relevant Union Agencies, as well as experts from the staff of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should assist the Commission in the coordination among the different agencies on the ground. (17)In cases where a Member State does not take the necessary corrective action in line with the vulnerability assessment or in the event of disproportionate migratory pressure at the external borders, rendering the control at the external border ineffective to an extent which risks putting in jeopardy the functioning of the Schengen area, a unified, rapid and effective response should be delivered at Union level. For this purpose, and to ensure better coordination at Union level, the Commission should identify the measures to be implemented by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and require the Member State concerned to cooperate with the Agency in the implementation of those measures. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should then determine the actions to be taken for the practical execution of the measures indicated in the Commission decision, and an operational plan should be drawn up with the Member State concerned. (18)The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should have the necessary equipment and staff at its disposal to be deployed in joint operations or rapid border interventions. To this end, when launching rapid border interventions at the request of a Member State or in the context of a situation requiring urgent action, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency should be able to deploy European Border and Coast Guard Teams from a rapid reserve pool which should be a standing corps composed of a small percentage of the total number of border guards in the Member States, which should amount to a minimum of 1 500. The deployment of the European Border and Coast Guard Teams from the rapid reserve pool should be immediately complemented by additional European Border and Coast Guard Teams as appropriate. (19)Having regard to the rapidity with which deployment of equipment and staff would need to take place in particular at areas of the external borders facing sudden large influxes of migratory flow, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency should also be able to deploy its own technical equipment which it should acquire itself or in co-ownership with a Member State. That technical equipment should be made available to the Agency upon its request. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should also manage a pool of technical equipment provided by the Member States, based on the needs identified by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and which should be completed by the means of transport and operating equipment purchased by Member States under the Specific Actions of the Internal Security Fund. (20)On 8 October 2015, the European Council called for enlarging the mandate of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union to assist Member States in ensuring the effective return of illegally staying third-country nationals, including by organising return operations on its own initiative and enhancing its role regarding the acquisition of travel documents. For this purpose, the European Council called for the establishment of a Return Office within the European Border and Coast Guard Agency which should be tasked with the coordination of the Agency’s activities in the field of return. (21)The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should step up its assistance to Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals, subject to the Union return policy and in compliance with Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. In particular, it should coordinate and organise return operations from one or more Member States and it should organise and conduct return interventions to reinforce the return system of Member States requiring increased technical and operational assistance when complying with their obligation to return illegally staying third-country nationals in accordance with that Directive. (22)The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should establish pools of forced return monitors, forced return experts and return specialists made available by Member States, who should be deployed during return operations and that should form part of tailor-made European Return Intervention Teams deployed in return interventions. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should provide them with the necessary training. (23)The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should develop specific training tools and it should provide training at Union level for national instructors of border guards and additional training and seminars related to control at external borders and return of third-country nationals illegally staying on the territory of Member States for officers of the competent national bodies. The Agency should be authorised to organise training activities in cooperation with Member States and third countries on their territory. (24)The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should monitor and contribute to the developments in research relevant for the control of the external borders, including the use of advanced surveillance technology, and it should disseminate this information to the Member States and to the Commission. (25)Effective implementation of an integrated management of the external borders necessitates regular, swift and reliable exchange of information among the Member States regarding the management of the external borders, irregular immigration and return. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should develop and operate information systems facilitating such exchange in accordance with Union data protection legislation. (26)For the purpose of fulfilling its mission and to the extent required for the accomplishment of its tasks, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency may cooperate with Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies as well as with international organisations in matters covered by this Regulation in the framework of working arrangements concluded in accordance with Union law and policy. Those working arrangements should receive the Commission’s prior approval. (27)National authorities carrying out coast guard functions are responsible for a wide range of tasks, including but not limited to maritime safety, security, search and rescue, border control, fisheries control, customs control, general law enforcement and environmental protection. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency, the European Fisheries Control Agency established by Council Regulation (EC) No 768/2005 and the European Maritime Safety Agency established by Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council should therefore strengthen their cooperation both with each other and with the national authorities carrying out coast guard functions to increase maritime situational awareness as well as to support coherent and cost-efficient action. (28)The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should facilitate and encourage operational cooperation between Member States and third countries in the framework of the external relations policy of the Union, including by coordinating operational cooperation between Member States and third countries in the field of management of external borders and by deploying liaison officers to third countries, as well as by cooperating with the authorities of third countries on return, including as regards the acquisition of travel documents. In their cooperation with third countries, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and Member States should comply with norms and standards at least equivalent to those set by Union legislation also when the cooperation with third countries takes place on the territory of those countries. (29)This Regulation respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised by Articles 2 and 6 of the Treaty on European Union and reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. In particular, this Regulation seeks to ensure full respect for human dignity, the right to life, the right to liberty and security, the right to the protection of personal data, the right to access to asylum, the right to effective remedy, the rights of the child, the prohibition of torture and of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the prohibition of trafficking in human beings, and to promote the application of the principles of non-discrimination and non-refoulement. (30)This Regulation establishes a complaint mechanism for the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, in cooperation with the Fundamental Rights Officer, to monitor and ensure the respect for fundamental rights in all the activities of the Agency. This should be an administrative mechanism whereby the Fundamental Rights Officer should be responsible for handling complaints received by the Agency in accordance with the right to good administration. The Fundamental Rights Officer should review the admissibility of a complaint, register admissible complaints, forward all registered complaints to the Executive Director, forward complaints concerning border guards to the home Member State and register the follow-up by the Agency or that Member State. Criminal investigations should be conducted by the Member States.

(31)In order to ensure the uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, in particular as regards situations requiring urgent action at the external borders, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council. (32)The European Border and Coast Guard Agency should be independent as regards operational and technical matters and have legal, administrative and financial autonomy. To that end, it is necessary and appropriate that it should be a Union body having legal personality and exercising the implementing powers, which are conferred upon it by this Regulation. (33)The Commission and the Member States should be represented within a Management Board to exercise policy and political oversight over the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The Board should, where possible, consist of the operational heads of the national services responsible for border guard management or their representatives. This Board should be entrusted with the necessary powers to establish the budget, verify its execution, adopt the appropriate financial rules, establish transparent working procedures for decision making by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and appoint the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director. The Agency should be governed and operated in line with the principles of the common approach on Union decentralised agencies adopted on 19 July 2012 by the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission. (34)In order to guarantee the autonomy of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, it should be granted an autonomous budget whose revenue comes essentially from a contribution from the Union. The Union budgetary procedure should be applicable as far as the Union contribution and any other subsidies chargeable to the general budget of the European Union are concerned. The auditing of accounts should be undertaken by the Court of Auditors. (35)Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council should apply without restriction to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, which should accede to the Inter-institutional Agreement of 25 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the Commission of the European Communities concerning internal investigations by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). (36)Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents should apply to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. (37)Any processing of personal data by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency within the framework of this Regulation should be conducted in accordance Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council. (38)Any processing of personal data by Member States within the framework of this Regulation should be conducted in accordance with Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA and the respect of the principles of necessity and proportionality. (39)Since the objectives of this Regulation, namely the development and implementation of a system of integrated management of the external borders, thus also ensuring the proper functioning of the Schengen area, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States acting in an uncoordinated manner but can rather, because of the absence of controls at internal borders and in view of the significant migratory pressures at the external borders and the need to safeguard a high level of internal security within the Union, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives. (40)As regards Iceland and Norway, this Regulation constitutes a development of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the latters’ association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis, which fall within the area referred to in point A of Article 1 of Council Decision 1999/437/EC. The arrangement between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway on the modalities of the participation by those States in the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union provides for rules on the participation by those countries in the work of the Agency, including provisions on financial contributions and staff. (41)As regards Switzerland, this Regulation constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, points A, B and G of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision 2008/146/EC. (42)As regards Liechtenstein, this Regulation constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation’s association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, points A, B and G of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 3 of Council Decision 2011/350/EU. (43)The arrangement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein, of the other part, on the modalities of the participation by those States in the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union provides for rules on the participation by those countries in the work of the Agency, including provisions on financial contributions and staff. (44)In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Regulation and is not bound by it, or subject to its application. Given that this Regulation builds upon the Schengen acquis under the provisions of Title IV of Part Three of the Treaty establishing the European Community, Denmark should, in accordance with Article 5 of the said Protocol, decide within a period of six months after the Council has adopted this Regulation whether it will implement it in its national law or not. (45)This Regulation constitutes a development of provisions of the Schengen acquis in which the United Kingdom does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2000/365/EC; the United Kingdom is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Regulation and is not bound by it or subject to its application. (46)This Regulation constitutes a development of provisions of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC; Ireland is therefore not taking part in the adoption of this Regulation and is not bound by it or subject to its application. (47)The Agency should facilitate the organisation of specific activities in which the Member States may avail themselves of the expertise and facilities which Ireland and the United Kingdom may be willing to offer, in accordance with modalities to be decided on a case-by-case basis by the Management Board. To that end, representatives of Ireland and the United Kingdom may be invited to attend meetings of the Management Board which allow them to participate fully in the preparation of such specific activities. (48)A controversy exists between the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom on the demarcation of the borders of Gibraltar. (49)The suspension of the applicability of this Regulation to the borders of Gibraltar does not imply any change in the respective positions of the States concerned. (50)The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 28(2) of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and delivered an opinion on […] .

(51)This Regulation aims to amend and expand the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004, Regulation (EC) No 863/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Decision 2005/267/EC. Since the amendments to be made are of substantial number and nature, those acts should, in the interests of clarity, be replaced and repealed. References to the repealed regulations should be construed as references to this Regulation. HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: CHAPTER I EUROPEAN BORDER AND COAST GUARD Article 1 Subject matter A European Border and Coast Guard is hereby set up to ensure a European integrated border management at the external borders with a view to managing migration effectively and ensuring a high level of internal security within the Union, while safeguarding the free movement of persons therein. Article 2 Definitions For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply: (1)‘external borders’ means the land and sea borders of the Member States and their airports and seaports, to which the provisions of Title II of Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council apply; (2)‘border control’ means border control as defined in point 9 of Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 562/2006; (3)‘European Border and Coast Guard Teams’ mean teams of border guards and other relevant staff from participating Member States, including national experts that are seconded by Member States to the Agency, to be deployed during joint operations, rapid border interventions as well as in the framework of migration management support teams; (4)‘host Member State’ means a Member State in which a joint operation or a rapid border intervention, a return operation or a return intervention takes place or from which it is launched; (5)‘home Member State’ means the Member State of which a member of the European Border and Coast Guard Teams is a border guard or other relevant staff member; (6)‘participating Member State’ means a Member State which participates in a joint operation, rapid border intervention, return operation, return intervention or migration management support teams by providing technical equipment, border guards and other relevant staff deployed as part of the European Border and Coast Guard Teams, as well as a Member States which participate in return operations or return interventions by providing technical equipment or staff; (7)‘members of the European Border and Coast Guard Teams’ mean the officers of border guard services or other relevant staff of Member States other than the host Member State, including national experts and border guards from Member States seconded to the Agency, who are participating in joint operations or rapid border interventions; (8)‘members of the teams’ mean members of the European Border and Coast Guard Teams or teams of staff involved in return-related tasks participating in return operations or return interventions; (9)‘migration management support teams’ mean teams of experts which provide operational and technical reinforcement to Member States at hotspot areas and which are composed of experts deployed from Member States by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the European Asylum Support Office, and from Europol or other relevant Union Agencies; (10)‘return’ means return as defined in point 3 of Article 3 of Directive 2008/115/EC;

(11)‘return decision’ means a return decision as defined in point 4 of Article 3 of Directive 2008/115/EC; (12)‘returnee’ means an illegally staying third-country national subject to a return decision; (13)‘return operation’ means an operation to return illegally staying third-country nationals, that is coordinated by the Agency and involves technical and operational reinforcement being provided by one or more Member States under which returnees from one or more Member States are returned either through forced return or in voluntary compliance with an obligation to return; (14)‘return intervention’ means an operation to return illegally staying third-country nationals providing for enhanced technical and operational assistance consisting of the deployment of European Return Intervention Teams to Member States and the organisation of return operations. Article 3 European Border and Coast Guard 1.The European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the national authorities of Member States which are responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks, shall constitute the European Border and Coast Guard. 2.The European Border and Coast Guard Agency shall establish an operational and technical strategy for the European integrated border management. It shall promote and ensure the implementation of European integrated border management in all Member States. 3.The national authorities which are responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks, shall establish their national strategies for integrated border management. Those national strategies shall be coherent with the strategy referred to in paragraph 2. Article 4 European integrated border management European integrated border management shall consist of the following components: (a)border control, including measures related to the prevention, detection and investigation of cross-border crime, where appropriate; (b)analysis of the risks for internal security and analysis of the threats that may affect the functioning or security of the external borders; (c)inter-agency cooperation among the national authorities in each Member State which are responsible for border control or for other tasks carried out at the border and among the relevant Union institutions, agencies, bodies and offices; including the regular exchange of information through existing information exchange tools, and in particular, the European Border Surveillance System (‘Eurosur’) established by Regulation (EU) No 1052/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council; (d)cooperation with third countries in the areas of covered by this Regulation, focusing in particular on neighbouring countries and on those third countries which have been identified through risk analysis as being countries of origin and transit for irregular immigration; (e)technical and operational measures within the area of free movement which are related to border control and designed to prevent irregular immigration and to counter cross-border crime; (f) return of third-country nationals illegally staying on the territory of the Member States; (g)use of state-of-the-art technology including large-scale information systems; (h)a quality control mechanism to ensure the implementation of Union legislation in the area of border management.

Article 5 Shared responsibility 1. The European Border and Coast Guard shall implement the European integrated border management as a shared responsibility of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and of the national authorities responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks. 2. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency shall facilitate the application of Union measures relating to the management of external borders by reinforcing, assessing and coordinating the actions of Member States in the implementation of those measures, and in return. Member States shall ensure the management of their section of the external borders, in their interests and in interest of all Member States which have abolished internal border control, in full compliance with Union law and in accordance with the technical and operational strategy referred to in Article 3(2), and in close cooperation with the Agency. 3.The European Border and Coast Guard Agency shall be responsible for the management of the external borders in the cases foreseen in this Regulation, in particular where the necessary corrective measures based on the vulnerability assessment are not taken or in the event of disproportionate migratory pressure, rendering the control of the external borders ineffective to such an extent that it risks putting in jeopardy the functioning of the Schengen area. CHAPTER II EUROPEAN BORDER AND COAST GUARD AGENCY Section 1 Tasks of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Article 6 European Border and Coast Guard Agency 1.To ensure a coherent European integrated border management at all external borders, the Agency shall facilitate and render more effective the application of existing and future Union measures relating to the management of external borders, in particular the Schengen Borders Code established by Regulation (EC) No 562/2006. 2.The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (‘the Agency’) shall be the new name for the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Members States of the European Union established by Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004. The activities shall henceforth be based on this Regulation. Article 7 Tasks 1. In view of contributing to an efficient, high and uniform level of border control and return, the Agency shall perform the following tasks: (a) establish a monitoring and risk analysis centre with the capacity to monitor migratory flows and to carry out risk analysis as regards all aspects of integrated border management; (b) carry out a vulnerability assessment including the assessment of the capacity of Member States to face threats and pressures at the external borders; (c) assist Member States in circumstances requiring increased technical and operational assistance at the external borders by coordinating and organising joint operations, taking into account that some situations may involve humanitarian emergencies and rescue at sea; (d) assist Member States in circumstances requiring increased technical and operational assistance at the external borders, by launching rapid border interventions at the external borders of those Member States facing specific and disproportionate pressures, taking into account that some situations may involve humanitarian emergencies and rescue at sea;

(e) set up and deploy European Border and Coast Guard Teams, including a rapid reserve pool, that are to be deployed during joint operations and rapid border interventions and in the framework of the migration management support teams; (f) set up a technical equipment pool to be deployed in joint operations, rapid border interventions and in the framework of migration management support teams, as well as in return operations and return interventions; (g) deploy European Border and Coast Guard Teams and technical equipment to provide assistance in screening, identification and fingerprinting in the framework of the migration management support teams at hotspot areas; (h) support the development of technical standards for equipment, especially for tactical level command, control and communication as well as technical surveillance to ensure interoperability at Union and national level; (i) deploy the necessary equipment and staff for the rapid reserve pool for the practical execution of the measures needed to be taken in a situation requiring urgent action at the external borders; (j) assist Member States in circumstances requiring increased technical assistance and operational assistance for implementing the obligation to return illegally staying third-country nationals, including through the coordination or organisation of return operations; (k) set up pools of forced return monitors, forced return escorts and return specialists; (l) set up and deploy European Return Intervention Teams during return interventions; (m) assist Member States on training of national border guards and experts on return, including the establishment of common training standards; (n) participate in the development and management of research and innovation activities relevant for the control and surveillance of external borders, including the use of advanced surveillance technology such as remotely piloted aircraft systems and develop pilot projects regarding matters covered by this Regulation; (o) develop and operate, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Framework Decision 2008/977/JHA, information systems that enable swift and reliable exchanges of information regarding emerging risks at the management of the external borders, irregular immigration and return, in close cooperation with the Commission, Union agencies, bodies and offices as well as the European Migration Network established by Council Decision 2008/381/EC; (p) provide the necessary assistance for the development and operation of a European border surveillance system and, as appropriate, to the development of a common information-sharing environment, including interoperability of systems, in particular by developing, maintaining and coordinating the Eurosur framework in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1052/2013; (q) cooperate with the European Fisheries Control Agency and the European Maritime Safety Agency to support the national authorities carrying out coast guard functions by providing services, information, equipment and training, as well as by coordinating multipurpose operations; (r) assist Member States and third countries in the context of operational cooperation between them in the fields of external border management and return. 2. Member States may continue cooperation at an operational level with other Member States and/or third countries at external borders, including military operations on a law enforcement mission and in the field of return, where such cooperation is compatible with the action of the Agency. Member States shall refrain from any activity which could jeopardise the functioning of the Agency or the attainment of its objectives. Member States shall report to the Agency on that operational cooperation with other Member States and/or third countries at the external borders and in the field of return. The Executive Director of the Agency (‘the Executive Director’) shall inform the Management Board of the Agency (‘the Management Board’) on those matters on a regular basis and at least once a year. 3. The Agency may engage in communication activities on its own initiative in the fields within its mandate. Communication activities shall not be detrimental to the tasks referred to in paragraph 1 and shall be carried out in accordance with relevant communication and dissemination plans adopted by the Management Board. Section 2 Monitoring and Crisis Prevention Article 8

Duty to cooperate in good faith The Agency and the national authorities which are responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks, shall be subject to a duty to cooperate in good faith, and an obligation to exchange information. Article 9 General obligation to exchange information The national authorities which are responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks, shall provide the Agency in a timely and accurate manner with all the information necessary for the Agency to perform the tasks conferred on it by this Regulation, in particular for the Agency to monitor the migratory flows towards and within the Union, to carry out risk analysis and to perform the vulnerability assessment. Article 10 Monitoring of migratory flows and risk analysis 1.The Agency shall establish a monitoring and risk analysis centre with the capacity to monitor migratory flows towards and within the Union. For this purpose, the Agency shall develop a common integrated risk analysis model, which shall be applied by the Agency and the Member States. 2. The Agency shall prepare general and tailored risk analyses and submit it to the Council and the Commission. 3.The risk analysis prepared by the Agency shall cover all aspects relevant to the European integrated border management, in particular border control, return, irregular secondary movements of third-country nationals within the Union, the prevention of cross-border crime including facilitation of irregular immigration, trafficking in human being and terrorism, as well as the situation in neighbouring third countries with a view to developing a pre-warning mechanism which analyses the migratory flows towards the Union. 4. Member States shall provide the Agency with all necessary information regarding the situation, trends and possible threats at the external borders and in the field of return. Member States shall regularly or upon the request of the Agency provide it with all relevant information such as statistical and operational data collected in relation to the implementation of the Schengen acquis as well as information and intelligence derived from the analysis layer of the national situational picture established in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1052/2013. 5.The results of the risk analysis shall be submitted to the Supervisory Board and to the Management Board. 6.Member States shall take results of the risk analysis into account when planning their operations and activities at the external borders as well as their activities with regard to return. 7.The Agency shall incorporate the results of a common integrated risk analysis model in its development of the common core curricula for the training of border guards and of staff involved in return-related tasks. Article 11 Liaison officers in Member States 1.The Agency shall ensure regular monitoring of the management of the external borders through liaison officers of the Agency in Member States. 2.The Executive Director shall appoint experts from the staff of the Agency to be deployed as liaison officers. The Executive Director shall, based on risk analysis and in consultation with the Management Board, determine the nature of the deployment, the Member State to which a liaison officer may be deployed and the duration of the deployment. The Executive Director shall notify the Member State concerned of the appointment and shall determine, together with the Member State, the location of deployment. 3.The liaison officers shall act on behalf of the Agency and their role shall be to foster cooperation and dialogue between the Agency and the national authorities which are responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks. The liaison officers shall, in particular: (a) act as an interface between the Agency and the national authorities responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks;

(b) support the collection of information required by the Agency for carrying out the vulnerability assessment referred to in Article 12; (c) monitor the measures taken by the Member State at border sections to which a high impact level has been attributed in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1052/2013; (d) assist the Member States in preparing their contingency plans; (e) report regularly to the Executive Director on the situation at the external border and the capacity of the Member State concerned to deal effectively with the situation at the external borders; (f) monitor the measures taken by the Member State with regard to a situation requiring urgent action at the external borders as referred to in Article 18; 4.For the purposes of paragraph 3, the liaison officer shall, inter alia: (a) have unlimited access to the national coordination centre and the national situational picture established in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1052/2013; (b) have access to national and European information systems available in the national coordination centre, on condition that he or she complies with the national and EU security and data protection rules; (c) keep regular contacts with national authorities which are responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks, whilst informing the head of the national coordination centre. 5.The report of the liaison officer shall form part of the vulnerability assessment referred to in Article 12. 6.In carrying out their duties, the liaison officers shall take instructions only from the Agency. Article 12 Vulnerability assessment 1.The Agency shall assess the technical equipment, systems, capabilities, resources and contingency plans of the Member States regarding border control. That assessment shall be based on information provided by the Member State and by the liaison officer, on information derived from Eurosur, in particular the impact levels attributed to the external land and sea border sections of each Member State in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1052/2013, and on the reports and evaluations of joint operations, pilot projects, rapid border interventions and other activities of the Agency. 2.Member States shall, at the request of the Agency, provide information as regards technical equipment, staff and financial resources available at national level to carry out border control and they shall submit their contingency plans. 3.The aim of the vulnerability assessment is for the Agency to assess the capacity and readiness of Member States to face upcoming challenges, including present and future threats and pressures at the external borders, to identify, especially for those Member States facing specific and disproportionate pressures, possible immediate consequences at the external borders and subsequent consequences on the functioning of the Schengen area, and to assess their capacity to contribute to the rapid reserve pool referred to in Article 19(5). That assessment is without prejudice to the Schengen evaluation mechanism. 4.The results of the vulnerability assessment shall be submitted to the Supervisory Board, which shall advise the Executive Director on the measures to be taken by the Member States based on the results of the vulnerability assessment, and taking into account the Agency’s risk analysis and the results of the Schengen evaluation mechanism. 5.The Executive Director shall adopt a decision setting out the necessary corrective measures to be taken by the Member State concerned, including by using resources under the Union financial instruments. The decision of the Executive Director shall be binding on the Member State and shall lay down the time-limit within which the measures are to be taken. 6. Where a Member State does not adopt the necessary corrective measures within the time-limit set, the Executive Director shall refer the matter to the Management Board and notify the Commission. The Management Board shall adopt a decision setting out the necessary corrective measures to be taken by the Member State concerned, including the time-limit within which such measures shall be taken. If the Member State does not take the measures within the time-limit foreseen in that decision, further action may be taken by the Commission in accordance with Article 18. Section 3

External Border Management Article 13 Actions by the Agency at the external borders 1. Member States may request the Agency for assistance in implementing their obligations with regard to the control of the external borders. The Agency shall also carry out measures as referred to in Article 18. 2. The Agency shall organise the appropriate technical and operational assistance for the host Member State and it may take one or more of the following measures: (a) coordinate joint operations for one or more Member States and deploy European Border and Coast Guard Teams; (b) organise rapid border interventions and deploy European Border and Coast Guard Teams from the rapid reserve pool, and additional European Border and Coast Guards Teams as appropriate; (c) coordinate activities for one or more Member States and third countries at the external borders, including joint operations with neighbouring third countries; (d) deploy European Border and Coast Guard Teams in the framework of the migration management support teams at hotspot areas; (e) deploy its own experts as well as members of the teams who had been seconded by the Member States to the Agency to support the competent national authorities of the Member States involved for the appropriate duration; (f) deploy technical equipment. 3. The Agency shall finance or co-finance the activities set out in paragraph 2 with grants from its budget in accordance with the financial rules applicable to the Agency. Article 14 Initiating joint operations and rapid border interventions at the external borders 1. Member States may request the Agency to launch joint operations to face upcoming challenges, including present or future threats at the external borders resulting from irregular immigration or cross-border crime, or to provide increased technical and operational assistance when implementing their obligations with regard to the control of the external borders. 2.At the request of a Member State faced with a situation of specific and disproportionate pressures, especially the arrival at points of the external borders of large numbers of third-country nationals trying to enter the territory of that Member State illegally, the Agency may deploy a rapid border intervention for a limited period of time on the territory of that host Member State. 3.The Executive Director shall evaluate, approve and coordinate proposals for joint operations made by Member States. Joint operations and rapid border interventions shall be preceded by a thorough, reliable and up-to-date risk analysis, thereby enabling the Agency to set an order of priority for the proposed joint operations and rapid border interventions, taking into account the impact level to external border sections in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1052/2013 and the availability of resources. 4.The Executive Director shall, on the advice of the Supervisory Board based on the results of the vulnerability assessment, and taking into account the Agency’s risk analysis and the analysis layer of the European situational picture established in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1052/2013, recommend to the Member State concerned to initiate and carry out joint operations or rapid border interventions. The Agency shall put its technical equipment at the disposal of the host or participating Member States. 5. The objectives of a joint operation or rapid border intervention may be achieved as part of a multipurpose operation which may involve the rescue of persons in distress at sea or other coast guard functions, the fight against migrant smuggling or trafficking in human beings, drug trafficking control operations, and migration management including identification, registration, debriefing and return. Article 15

Operational plan for joint operations 1.In preparation of a joint operation the Executive Director, in cooperation with the host Member State, shall draw up a list of technical equipment and staff needed taking into account the host Member State’s available resources. On the basis of those elements, the Agency shall define a package of operational and technical reinforcement as well as capacity building activities to be included in the operational plan. 2.The Executive Director shall draw up an operational plan for joint operations at the external borders. The Executive Director and the host Member State, in consultation with the participating Member States, shall agree on the operational plan detailing the organisational aspects of the joint operation. 3.The operational plan shall be binding on the Agency, the host Member State and the participating Member States. It shall cover all aspects considered necessary for carrying out the joint operation, including the following: (a) a description of the situation, with modus operandi and objectives of the deployment, including the operational aim; (b) the foreseeable duration of the joint operation; (c) the geographical area where the joint operation will take place; (d) a description of the tasks and special instructions for the European Border and Coast Guard Teams, including on permissible consultation of databases and permissible service weapons, ammunition and equipment in the host Member State; (e) the composition of the European Border and Coast Guard Teams as well as the deployment of other relevant staff; (f) command and control provisions, including the names and ranks of the border guards of the host Member State responsible for cooperating with the members of the teams and the Agency, in particular the names and ranks of those border guards who are in command during the period of deployment, and the place of the members of the teams in the chain of command; (g) the technical equipment to be deployed during the joint operation, including specific requirements such as conditions for use, requested crew, transport and other logistics, and financial provisions; (h) detailed provisions on immediate incident reporting by the Agency to the Management Board and to relevant national public authorities; (i) a reporting and evaluation scheme containing benchmarks for the evaluation report and final date of submission of the final evaluation report; (j) regarding sea operations, specific information on the application of the relevant jurisdiction and legislation in the geographical area where the joint operation takes place, including references to international and Union law regarding interception, rescue at sea and disembarkation. In that regard the operational plan shall be established in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 656/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council; (k) modalities of cooperation with third countries, other Union agencies, bodies and offices or international organisations; (l) procedures setting out a referral mechanism whereby persons in need of international protection, victims of trafficking in human beings, unaccompanied minors and persons in a vulnerable situation are directed to the competent national authorities for appropriate assistance; (m) procedures setting out a mechanism to receive and transmit to the Agency a complaint against border guards of the host Member State and members of the European Border and Coast Guard Teams alleging breaches of fundamental rights in the context of the joint operation or rapid border intervention. 4.Any amendments to or adaptations of the operational plan shall require the agreement of the Executive Director and the host Member State, after consultation of the participating Member States. A copy of the amended or adapted operational plan shall immediately be sent by the Agency to the participating Member States. Article 16 Procedure for launching a rapid border intervention

1. A request by a Member State to launch a rapid border intervention shall include a description of the situation, possible aims and envisaged needs. If required, the Executive Director may immediately send experts from the Agency to assess the situation at the external borders of the Member State concerned. 2. The Executive Director shall immediately inform the Management Board of a Member State’s request to launch a rapid border intervention. 3.When deciding on the request of a Member State, the Executive Director shall take into account the findings of the Agency’s risk analyses and the analysis layer of the European situational picture established in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1052/2013 as well as the outcome of the vulnerability assessment referred to in Article 12 and any other relevant information provided by the Member State concerned or another Member State. 4.The Executive Director shall take a decision on the request for launching a rapid border intervention within two working days from the date of the receipt of the request. The Executive Director shall simultaneously notify the Member State concerned and the Management Board in writing of the decision. The decision shall state the main reasons on which it is based. 5.If the Executive Director decides to launch a rapid border intervention, he or she shall deploy European Border and Coast Guard Teams from the rapid reserve pool in accordance with Article 19(5), and where necessary, he or she shall decide on the immediate reinforcement by one or more European Border and Coast Guard Teams, in accordance with Article 19(6). 6.The Executive Director together with the host Member State shall draw up an operational plan as referred to in Article 15(3) immediately and in any event no later than three working days from the date of the decision. 7.As soon as the operational plan has been agreed upon, the Executive Director shall request the Member States to immediately deploy the border guards that form part of the rapid reserve pool. The Executive Director shall indicate the profiles and numbers of border guards, required from each Member State from among those identified in the existing rapid reserve pool. 8.In parallel, and where necessary, to secure the immediate reinforcement of the European Border and Coast Guard Teams deployed from the rapid reserve pool, the Executive Director shall inform the Member States of the requested number and profiles of border guards which are to be additionally deployed. This information shall be provided, in writing to the national contact points and shall indicate the date on which the deployment is to take place. A copy of the operational plan shall also be provided to them. 9.If the Executive Director is absent or indisposed, the decisions related to the deployment of the rapid reserve pool and any additional deployment of European Border and Coast Guard Teams shall be taken by the Deputy Executive Director. 10.Member States shall ensure that the border guards assigned to the rapid reserve pool are immediately and without exception made available to the Agency. Member States shall also make additional border guards available for the deployment of European Border and Coast Guard Teams at the request of the Agency, unless they are faced with an exceptional situation substantially affecting the discharge of national tasks. 11.Deployment of the rapid reserve pool shall take place no later than three working days after the date on which the operational plan is agreed between the Executive Director and the host Member State. Additional deployment of European Border and Coast Guard Teams, shall take place where necessary, within five working days of the deployment of the rapid reserve pool. Article 17 Migration management support teams 1.Where a Member State faces disproportionate migratory pressures at particular hotspot areas of its external border characterised by large influxes of mixed migratory flows, that Member State may request the operational and technical reinforcement by migration management support teams. That Member State shall submit a request for reinforcement and an assessment of its needs to the Agency and other relevant Union Agencies in particular the European Asylum Support Office and Europol. 2.The Executive Director, in coordination with other relevant Union Agencies, shall assess the request for assistance of a Member State and the assessment of its needs for the purpose of defining a comprehensive reinforcement package consisting of various activities coordinated by the relevant Union Agencies to be agreed upon by the Member State concerned. 3.The operational and technical reinforcement provided by the European Border and Coast Guard Teams, the European Return Intervention Teams and experts from the Agency’s staff in the framework of the migration management support teams, may include: (a) the screening of third-country nationals arriving at the external borders, including the identification, registration, and debriefing of those third-country nationals and, where requested by the Member State, the fingerprinting of third-country nationals; (b) the provision of information to persons in clear need of international protection or to applicants or potential applicants for relocation; (c) technical and operational assistance in the field of return, including the preparation and organisation of return operations. 4.The Agency shall assist the Commission in the coordination of the activities of the migration management support teams, in cooperation with the other relevant Union Agencies.

Article 18 Situation at the external borders requiring urgent action 1.Where a Member State does not take the necessary corrective measures in accordance with a decision of the Management Board referred to in Article 12(6) or in the event of disproportionate migratory pressure at the external border, rendering the control of the external borders ineffective to such an extent that it risks putting in jeopardy the functioning of the Schengen area, the Commission, after consulting the Agency, may adopt a decision by means of an implementing act, identifying the measures to be implemented by the Agency and requiring the Member State concerned to cooperate with the Agency in the implementation of those measures. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 79(2). On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency relating to the functioning of the Schengen area, the Commission shall adopt immediately applicable implementing acts in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 79(5). 2.For the purposes of paragraph 1, the Commission shall provide for one or more of the following measures to be taken by the Agency: (a) organise and coordinate rapid border interventions and deploy European Border and Coast Guard Teams f