Minister of State for Illegal Migration (): I am pleased to
announce that a landmark working arrangement between the UK and
Frontex (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency) is being
launched today.
The working arrangement is a non-legally binding arrangement that
provides a long-term framework for mutually beneficial
cooperation with Frontex across a range of operational areas to
tackle illegal migration and cross-border crime. A working
arrangement is the standard means for non-EU countries to
cooperate with Frontex and various other third countries have
similar arrangements, including the USA, Canada, Albania and
Ukraine.
Our aim is to work with Frontex through this arrangement to
enhance our respective and joint operational responses to illegal
migration and cross-border crime, making the UK’s and EU’s
borders safer and more secure. This is another step in our
cooperation with European partners to tackle illegal migration
into and across Europe.
The working arrangement includes provision for cooperation on:
- information and intelligence exchange, situational awareness
and risk analysis, including through the framework of EUROSUR
(the European Border Surveillance System);
- training and capacity building;
- cooperation on research and innovation projects;
- technical and operational cooperation, including the
deployment of UK and Frontex staff in observation, advisory, or
coordination capacities;
- sharing best practice and expertise, including on border
management; and
- exchange of Liaison Officers.
This follows the previous announcement regarding the opening of
discussions on a working arrangement by the Prime Minister of the
United Kingdom and the President of the European Commission at
the Council of Europe Summit in May 2023.
We intend to begin cooperation under this working arrangement as
soon as possible, with an initial focus on sharing knowledge,
expertise, and information on mutual priorities. Over the coming
months, the Home Office will build on this by agreeing detailed
cooperation and operational plans with Frontex to support further
collaboration. We will announce more detail in due course.
Organised immigration crime and people smuggling are global
challenges that require shared solutions and ambitions. Signing
the working arrangement underscores our shared commitment to
tackling illegal migration and organised immigration crime, be it
in the Channel, along the EU’s external border, or further
upstream.
The working arrangement and an accompanying Explanatory
Memorandum will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and
both documents will also be published on GOV.UK.
