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EU beefs up border control agency

13 September 2011, 21:52 CET
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(STRASBOURG) - The European Parliament voted on Tuesday to beef up the EU's border control agency to help it react faster to trouble at the bloc's external frontiers amid heated debate about immigration in Europe.

The legislation will give Frontex new means to help European Union states patrol borders totalling 42,000 kilometres at sea and 8,800 kilometres on land.

"It needs to be strengthened and made more effective because, despite all good intentions, it has not lived up to expectations so far," said conservative Euro MP Simon Busuttil, the bill's lead sponsor.

His island nation, Malta, has been at the frontline of the EU's fears of an influx of illegal migration from north Africa in the wake of revolutions that swept the region.

Warsaw-based Frontex will have the ability to buy or lease its own cars, boats or helicopters, instead of having to wait for the generosity of EU states.

To boost its visibility, missions will now be known as "European border guard teams." One recent mission to help Greece police its porous border with Turkey was dubbed "RABITS," for rapid border intervention teams.

An inspector will also be appointed to ensure border guards respect the human rights of migrants packed in small boats or taking dangerous treks across land to reach the promise of a better life in Europe.

The goals is to ensure that migrants trying to enter the EU are not sent back to countries that are notorious human rights violators.

Frontex will also have the obligation to assist EU states facing a humanitarian emergency, such as saving people stranded at sea. The agency has been criticised in the past for failing to prevent tragedies.

The revamp of Frontex follows controversial calls for a reform of the EU's passport-free Schengen travel zone, with some governments seeking more leeway to restore internal border controls in cases of unexpected migration flows.

The new regulation, adopted in a 431-49 vote by the parliament, is expected to take effect by the end of the year after EU governments give their green light.


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