On 30 November , Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, published a statement announcing that it is taking the furst steps towards the create of a European Cost Guard Body.
It has called on EU member states and Schengen Associated Countries to provide officers for the newly adopted European Coast Guard Functions Officer profile.By next year, Frontex will deploy three off-shore patrol vessels (OPVs) from Finland, Romania and France, which will have multi-national European crews for the first time. Currently, member states provide vessels, along with their own crews, to participate in Frontex joint operations.
Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri claimed that “this marks a tangible step in our transformation into the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. This solution will allow us to be more effective when assisting member states at the EU’s external maritime borders,”
He further commented that “this will allow member states to provide vessels with a core crew for a longer period of time without the need to commit a large number of officers. The rest of the crew will come from other member states in a true spirit of European cooperation at sea.”
Frontex has called on member states to submit offers for officers to take part in the new concept by 15 December 2016.
The press release is available here.