Frontex’ mandate
Frontex is tasked to deploy Rapid Border Intervention Teams, to provide border guards who are part of the Rapid Pool with advanced training and to conduct regular exercises with those border guards. Besides, Frontex shall set up and keep centralised records of border control equipment belonging to Member States, which they are willing to put at the disposal of another Member State for a temporary period following a needs and risks analysis carried out by the Agency.
By carrying out these tasks, Frontex contributes to putting into practice Member States’ solidarity in the field of integrated border management in the European Union’s common area of freedom, security and justice.
Mission of Pooled Resources Unit
The aim of Pooled Resources Unit is to strengthen the response capacity of Frontex and Member States by developing availability and deployability of border guards and border control equipment.
Pooled Resources Unit manages and develops pools of border guards and technical equipment of the Member States, Schengen Associated Countries and Frontex in view of their use during Joint Operations and rapid operational assistance. In the future all operational resources deployed in activities coordinated by Frontex will stem from these pools.
Activities
In 2007 a considerable step in the development of the integrated border management was made through the adoption by the European Parliament and the Council of the so-called RABIT Regulation establishing a mechanism for the creation of Rapid Border Intervention Teams and amending the Frontex Regulation.
This RABIT Mechanism is an emergency instrument created to serve in extraordinary situations of urgent and exceptional pressure at the external borders of a Member State. A Member State facing such urgent and exceptional situation can request Frontex to deploy Rapid Border Intervention Teams on its territory. The teams can be compared to fire brigades called in an emergency situation when a massive fire spreads unexpectedly.
Another important characteristic of the RABIT Mechanism is its legally binding nature. Member States shall contribute to the so-called Rapid Pool by nominating border guards who are to be made available for the teams. Also, when requested by Frontex, Member States shall in principle make their border guards available for deployment.
The Pooled Resources Unit manages the Rapid Pool in a dynamic and transparent way, through meetings such as those of the Pooled Resources Network, and by carrying out exercises of Rapid Border Intervention Teams.
The Centralised Record of Available Technical Equipment (CRATE) has its legal basis in Article 7 of the Frontex Regulation. The general idea behind the establishment of CRATE is the mutual support among Member States and Schengen Associated Countries in making available technical equipment for border control. CRATE has been used for planning the deployment of resources in Joint Operations since 2008. Helicopters, vessels, aircraft and other technical equipment taken from CRATE have been an essential element in Land and Sea Borders Operations.
Resources
The Unit currently consists of 8 staff, including 4 seconded experts from the Member States. The budget for 2010 is EUR 1.4 million, which mainly is used to cover costs of organization of workshops and meetings.
