The task of the unit is to coordinate co-operation along the external borders of the Member States of the European Union as well as along the external Schengen borders. The unit is divided into four sectors: three sectors dealing with the operational cooperation at the air, land and sea borders respectively, one sector being responsible for providing assistance to Member States in organization of return operations.
As all Frontex activities, joint operations are based on risk analysis. In general there are three kinds of impulses that can lead to a joint operation. The first possibility is the situation when Frontex itself proposes a joint operation based on the facts identified in a risk analysis. The second possibility is a proposal for a joint operation or a pilot project coming from a Member State. Such a proposal is evaluated by Frontex and the joint operation or pilot project can be co-financed by the Agency in the form of a grant. The third possibility is a request coming from a Member State facing a particular situation requiring assistance.
In the two latter cases the needs and requirements of the concrete situation are evaluated by Frontex risk assessment. Following this and after a discussion with the authorities of the concerned Member State, an operational plan is drafted. As Frontex is a coordinator of such operations, we subsequently address other Member States with a request to participate in the operation and await the offers. The received offers are then evaluated against the background of the concrete identified needs (needed profile of experts, technical requirements of surveillance equipment, etc.). The operational plan is then finalized with the input from all participating Member States.
However, our core aim is to look for system solutions in the area of border management. This means that we seek mechanisms that would enhance the cooperation of the Member States and thus reduce the necessity ad hoc actions. A clear example of this system approach was a feasibility study on reinforcing monitoring and surveillance of the southern maritime border of the European Union, namely in the Mediterranean Sea (MEDSEA), carried out by Frontex.
As all Frontex activities, joint operations are based on risk analysis. In general there are three kinds of impulses that can lead to a joint operation. The first possibility is the situation when Frontex itself proposes a joint operation based on the facts identified in a risk analysis. The second possibility is a proposal for a joint operation or a pilot project coming from a Member State. Such a proposal is evaluated by Frontex and the joint operation or pilot project can be co-financed by the Agency in the form of a grant. The third possibility is a request coming from a Member State facing a particular situation requiring assistance.
In the two latter cases the needs and requirements of the concrete situation are evaluated by Frontex risk assessment. Following this and after a discussion with the authorities of the concerned Member State, an operational plan is drafted. As Frontex is a coordinator of such operations, we subsequently address other Member States with a request to participate in the operation and await the offers. The received offers are then evaluated against the background of the concrete identified needs (needed profile of experts, technical requirements of surveillance equipment, etc.). The operational plan is then finalized with the input from all participating Member States.
However, our core aim is to look for system solutions in the area of border management. This means that we seek mechanisms that would enhance the cooperation of the Member States and thus reduce the necessity ad hoc actions. A clear example of this system approach was a feasibility study on reinforcing monitoring and surveillance of the southern maritime border of the European Union, namely in the Mediterranean Sea (MEDSEA), carried out by Frontex.
