On Thursday 6 December in Brussels, the EU Home Affairs Ministers of the Twenty-Eight reached partial ('general approach') political agreement on certain segments of the reform of the European Coast Guard and Border Guard Agency (formerly Frontex).
Expected (see EUROPE 12153), this decision did not give rise to any particular debates. The partial general approach concerns the provisions governing the return of irregular migrants. The Agency will be empowered to further assist States in these return operations to countries of origin. In terms of relations with third countries, the Agency and Member States may operate in close neighbouring third countries, for example in Africa, and support return operations from third countries to third countries.
On the other hand, the partial agreement does not deal with the question of increasing the number of staff of the European Agency. Member States are experiencing difficulties in staffing the agency with 10,000 staff by 2020, as suggested by the European Commission in mid-September (see EUROPE 12094).
The European Parliament has not yet approved its negotiating mandate with the Council. It must do so in January as requested by the rapporteur, Roberta Metsola (EPP, Malta), who presented her report to the Committee on Civil Liberties at the end of November (see EUROPE 12147). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)