The European Parliament rapporteur on the new mandate of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (ex-Frontex), Roberta Metsola (Malta, EPP), explained on 21 March in the Civil Liberties Committee that an agreement had not yet been reached with the Council of the EU on the Agency's ability to carry out operations for non-Member States to non-Member-States, a request supported by the Member States, but rejected by the Parliament and the Member, which she did not find justified.
Other issues also remain open and "sensitive", such as the review mechanism provided by the Council of the EU for the Commission to assess the Agency's needs in 2024. The Maltese rapporteur was speaking at the end of a third trilogue. However, she reported progress with the confirmation of the objective of having a permanent corps of 10,000 troops by 2027, as well as additional guarantees on respect for fundamental rights and the creation of a vice-head of fundamental rights and the more general strengthening of the principle of respect for fundamental rights in the activities of staff.
The MEP also said that she was successful in ensuring that all resources to support coast guard and border guard activities will not be able to support actions such as the reintroduction of temporary border controls to combat secondary movements. A next trilogue, she hopes to conclude, is planned for next week. The discussions had started on 27 February (see EUROPE 12204/9). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)