Implementation of free movement of people, promised to European citizens in the Treaty of Rome, meant in one of its aspects the abolishment of border checks between Member States. Enhancing cooperation of law enforcement bodies across Europe was an obvious consequence of that step. European security architecture has been gradually developed through everyday Schengen cooperation, legal acts such as the Amsterdam Treaty, and political guidelines from Tampere, Laeken, Seville and Thessaloniki Council conclusions. From November 2004 when The Hague Programme was accepted by the Council, the area of Freedom, Security and Justice is being created in the European Union through strengthening cooperation between Member States, Schengen Associated Countries and other partners.
Border security being a part of that phenomenon has also undergone evolution starting from nationally focused systems underlying the sovereignty of each state to operational cooperation at the external borders. National border security systems are being complemented by a unified set of effective tools to manage potential risks at the external borders. Frontex was created particularly to integrate national border security systems of Member States against all kind of threats that could happen at or through the external border of the Member States of the European Union.
Frontex promotes a pan European model of Integrated Border Security, which consists not only of border controls but also other important elements. The first tier of the model is formed by exchange of information and cooperation between Member States, immigration and repatriation. The second tier is represented by border and customs control including surveillance, border checks and risk analysis. The third tier is linked with cooperation with border guards, customs and police authorities in neighbouring countries. The forth tier is connected with cooperation with third countries including common activities.
One of the key elements of the EU strategy to secure external borders was the creation of a body, i.e. Frontex that coordinates and enhances border security by ensuring the coordination of Member States’ operational cooperation. Frontex is a community body having legal personality as well as operational and budgetary autonomy. It is governed by its Management Board, which consists of operational heads of national border guard services and representatives of the European Commisson. This Board is entrusted with the necessary powers to establish the budget, verify its execution, adopt the appropriate financial rules, establish transparent working procedures for decision making by the Agency and to appoint the Executive Director and his deputy.
