30/04/2019 (Agence Europe) – The first agreement signed between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (ex-Frontex) and a non-EU country, Albania, will enter into force on 1 May, the Commission said in a statement. It will enable the Agency to conduct joint operations with the country's authorities and deploy joint teams on the Albanian-EU border with the aim of combating irregular migration and managing possible sudden flows. The first joint team will be deployed at the end of May on the border between Albania and Greece. The Commission is preparing further such agreements with North Macedonia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The new Frontex rules approved this year also now provide for similar agreements with non-Member States not bordering the EU, such as North African countries. (SP)