The European Commission wants to create a border agency that could take control of the EU’s external frontiers, according to documents seen by
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The European Commission wants to create a border agency that could take control of the EU’s external frontiers, according to documents seen by euronews on Friday.
The EU executive’s white paper proposes replacing its current border agency, Frontex, with a permanent border force and coastguard.
The new force would be able to hire its own guards, buy its own equipment and step in if it felt a country had lost control of its borders.
It comes as EU leaders struggle to form a coherent strategy to deal with the influx of refugees and migrants.
A senior EU official said that a reserve force would be formed of between 1,000 to 2,000 people, which could be mobilised within three days.
However, the Commission document obtained by euronews mentions a figure of 1,500.
The new agency would also be able to deport people who do not have the right to remain in Europe — a power that Frontex lacked.
It would also be permitted to intervene in non-EU countries if those countries requested assistance.
But this proposal will need the backing of EU member states before it can become a reality.
EU leaders meet in Brussels next to discuss migration and terrorism; the Commission’s white paper will also be on the agenda.