Brussels, 06/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European border agency, Frontex, is to establish common training standards for the different national border guards of the EU so that they are better able to cooperate during missions on the ground, Ilkka Laitinen, Frontex Director, said. Frontex has presented its “Common Core Curriculum” (CCC) to the Accademia di Cesena in Italy. The CCC covers the use of common knowledge and skills for the training of border guards. “After two years of development under Frontex lead, the Common Core Curriculum is ready for implementation into national training systems in all the EU member states and Schengen associated countries”, Mr Laitinen says in a press release. “Principles of integrated border management are the same everywhere in the EU. Training for our officers should therefore be the same in order to enable smooth cooperation during joint operations coordinated by Frontex”, he added. The CCC was conceived with the support of over 40 experts from 21 countries and consultancy from universities and international organisations such as UNHCR, IOM (International Office for Migration) and CPT (Committee for the Prevention of Torture). The CCC has a four-part structure: - general part, air border, land border and sea border modules. The general part corresponds to the basic knowledge and skills required, and the specialised modules depend upon the needs of the different member states. With backup from a network of academies located in nine member states, Frontex also conducts specific training for border guards when so requested by the states. Training is now available for dog handlers, in languages, in the field of stolen cars, and for pilots to improve air-ground-sea cooperation during operations in the Mediterranean. Frontex is also responsible for escorting flights for the return of illegal migrants. (B.C.)