The European Commission wants to create a border agency that could take control of the EU’s external frontiers, according to documents seen by
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.
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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.