The Civil Liberties Committee (European parliament) approved on Monday plans to create an integrated border management system by an European Border Guard and Coast Guard, composed by FRONTEX, the managing body of the EU’s external borders, and the border management authorities of the Member States .

This new Border Guard and Coast Guard will enable additional rapid intervention teams to assist those Member States whose external border is under pressure. National authorities will continue to manage their borders on a daily basis, whilst also having the opportunity to ask the help of this new border guard and coastguard in crisis situations.

MEPs changed by amendments to the initial legislative proposal to make the European Border Guard and Coast Guard more effective in addressing the challenges it has had in the EU out of its borders, both with regard to immigration, and to internal security. The aim is to preserving the free movement within the Schengen area, to increase transparency and accountability to the European Parliament, while respecting the sovereignty of Member States.

The draft regulation was approved with 40 votes in favor, 10 against and 5 abstentions.

For more information: www.europarl.europa.eu