The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee discussed, on Monday 26 November, the draft report by Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola (EPP) on the new mandate of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (ex-Frontex).
Most of the shadow rapporteurs pointed out the unrealistic nature of the Commission's proposal made on 12 September that the agency should have a staff of 10,000 by the end of 2020, compared to the current 1,500 (see EUROPE 12094). Mrs Metsola, the rapporteur, has set about proposing a “realistic timetable", she told her colleagues, while she intends to put her report to the vote in committee at the end of January.
Malta proposes to add flexibility, in terms of number of staff and time, with the creation of a 4th category of staff (in addition to statutory staff in category 1, staff seconded by Member States to the Agency in category 2 or staff seconded by Member States for short-term deployments in category 3) dedicated to a rapid intervention force consisting of 3,000 men seconded by Member States and intervening as a last resort to migration emergencies. This rapid intervention force would complement permanent border guard staff.
A system of annual revision according to needs would also make the constitution of the other three categories of staff vary from a minimum of 5,000 to a maximum of 7,000, she added, with the rapid intervention force of 3,000 troops being able to intervene in addition in the event of a major crisis.
On the other aspects of the proposal, in particular the returns aspect, which is strengthened in this new Commission proposal, the rapporteur wants to ensure that there are guarantees that these returns - particularly from third countries to third countries, as proposed in the new mandate - are preceded by an assessment of the respect for fundamental rights in the country of return. These returns should be limited to countries that are considered safe by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. A controversial point, the Maltese MEP has already warned.
It also removed the possibility provided by the Commission that Frontex agents would be empowered to issue or refuse visas. She said they should only be border guards. As for carrying weapons, it will be up to the Member States to take a decision in this respect, but Mrs Metsola insists on the continuous training of Frontex agents, which the Agency must also provide on its own.
Among the parliamentarians from the other groups, Nathalie Griesbeck, ALDE rapporteur, also asked for a realistic timetable, as the current text seems "very difficult to implement". The proposal is also very complex, she said, and must better clarify the new executive tasks given to the border guards, particularly in terms of access to data. The French MEP is also against Frontex's return operations from one third country to another.
The EU Council, for its part, is aiming for a partial approach on the "return" segments and operations with third countries at its meeting on 6 December (see EUROPE 12144). Link to the Parliament draft report: https://bit.ly/2RecZO1. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)