Apart from coordinating cooperation of EU Member States, Frontex also pays attention to cooperation with third countries in line with general EU guidelines. Concentrating on third countries that share common goals in terms of border security with the EU, such cooperation is targeted to sustainable partnership. In the gradual process, in which such partnership is developed, working arrangements (protocols and/or memoranda of understanding) concluded between Frontex and its third country partner in accordance with the relevant provisions of Council Regulation EC 2007/2004 always precede practical measures.
General principles
To establish third country cooperation Frontex builds up and maintain, at the operational level, a reliable, accessible, equitable and effective network of partnership with third countries. This network provides the strategic framework for intensifying the operational cooperation with third countries.
Frontex coordinated operational cooperation with third countries is exercised and developed gradually and is always targeted at sustainable partnership. Each third country partner will be considered individually.
Frontex activities regarding third country cooperation is always align with general EU guidelines.
Frontex performs its duties with and in third countries that have common goals in terms of border security. Prior to taking practical measures, purely technical working arrangements between Frontex and its third country partner are concluded according to specific provisions of the Management Board.
Priorities
Accession and candidate countries attract the highest priority in terms of operational cooperation with countries other than EU Member States. After that, priority is given to neighbouring third countries and those third countries, according to risk analyses, considered being either countries of origin or transit in terms of illegal immigration or other kinds of serious cross border crime.
Joint measures with third countries
Frontex third country partners are basically those law enforcement authorities who are operationally in charge of border control.
Various kinds of operational cooperation might include, in particular, the exchange of information and experience. Frontex emphasizes the development of a reliable third country information system with the aim to provide Risk analyses unit with appropriate information to integrate in future risk analysis reports.
In addition to training cooperation, appropriate joint activities and secondment of border guards to Member States units responsible for border control are possible areas of third country cooperation.
Third countries will be encouraged to participate in joint measures coordinated by Frontex when operational security and other conditions are met.
