Brussels, 18/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - MEPs on the European Parliament (EP) civil liberties committee voted on Thursday 17 March on beefing up the Frontex Agency and called for “stricter fundamental rights obligations, more solidarity with member states facing disproportionate burdens and a new EU Border Guard System”, a press release states. In adopting the report by Simon Busutill (EPP) by 43 votes to 7, the committee took the view that Frontex should have an EU Border Guard System “consisting of a pool of national border guards that can be tapped by the agency for its joint operations, rapid border missions and pilot projects”.
They also backed the Commission's proposal to grant the agency the resources to purchase or lease its own equipment. Member states, they say, should provide the necessary technical support and expertise in the management of external borders. “In turn, the agency should promote solidarity between member states, especially those facing specific and disproportionate pressures.”
Timeframes within which rapid border intervention missions are deployed in urgent situations should be shortened, they said. “The deployment of the teams should take place no later than three working days after an operational plan is agreed”, the report says.
MEPs backed the creation of an “advisory board on fundamental rights within Frontex” to investigate compliance with fundamental rights in any operations conducted by the agency. They said, too, that Frontex should also draw up a code of conduct to ensure respect for fundamental rights.
Amendments were passed allowing Frontex to process personal data only “when strictly necessary”; and, in doing so, the agency should be limited to personal data of people “suspected of involvement in cross-border crime, irregular migration or human trafficking, people who are victims of such activities and those subject to return operations”. Storage of these data should not exceed three months. (S.P./transl.rt)