Brussels, 12/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission proposed on Monday 12 December that cooperation among member states be stepped up in tackling serious crime and illegal immigration through the establishment of the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR).
Under the EUROSUR mechanism, “member states' authorities responsible for border surveillance (border guards, coast guards, police, customs and navies) will be able to exchange operational information and cooperate with each other, with Frontex and with neighbouring countries”, the Commission says. “EUROSUR will help detect and fight criminal networks' activities and will be a crucial tool for saving migrants who put their lives at risk trying to reach EU shores”, said Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, adding: “The new system will contribute to an integrated border management system whilst ensuring that fundamental rights, data protection and the principle of non-refoulement are respected”.
Exchange of information within the framework of EUROSUR “will take the form of 'situational pictures', which can be described as graphical interfaces presenting data, information and intelligence”. In order to improve the capacity to detect small vessels, Frontex will also set up a service for the common application of surveillance tools, combining, among other things, satellite imagery with information derived from ship reporting systems. In 2008, the Commission proposed the setting up of EUROSUR and set out a roadmap for the development, testing and implementation of the system. Member states are currently setting up national coordination centres for border surveillance, which will be “the single point of contact for real-time data, information and intelligence exchange between border guards, coast guards, police and other national authorities as well as with Frontex and other national coordination centres”, the Commission says. (SP/transl.rt)