21/05/2019 (Agence Europe) – The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (ex-Frontex) launched on Tuesday 21 May, in cooperation with the Albanian authorities, the first ever joint operation on the territory of a neighbouring non-Member State, the Commission announced in a statement. “From 22 May, Agency teams will be deployed jointly with Albanian border guards at the Greek-Albanian border to strengthen border management and improve security at the EU's external borders”, the Commission writes, “in full agreement with all the countries concerned”. At the start of the operation, the Agency will deploy 50 officers, 16 patrol cars and 1 van equipped with a thermal vision device from 12 EU Member States (Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Romania, Poland and Slovenia). (SP)