Brussels, 8 September 2023
The Council adopted a decision to sign an agreement with Albania on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). The agreement will allow the organisation of joint operations and the deployment of Frontex border management teams in Albania. The deployment of Frontex teams will be subject to the country’s agreement. The decision was taken by written procedure.
Cross-border crime and immigration management are important challenges both for EU countries and our closests neighbours.
Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez, acting Spanish minister of the interior
Thanks to the agreement, Frontex will be able to assist Albania with managing migratory flows, countering illegal immigration, and tackling cross-border crime.
Background
Since the adoption of a new European Border and Coast Guard Agency regulation in 2019, Frontex can assist countries it signs agreements with throughout their territory and not only in the regions bordering the EU, as was the case with the previous mandate. The regulation also allows Frontex staff to exercise executive powers, such as border checks and registration of persons.
This agreement will replace the current agreement between Albania and Frontex, which entered into force in 2019 (and which was agreed before the entry into force of the new European Border and Coast Guard Agency regulation).
Frontex has border management cooperation agreements in place with Serbia (2020) under the previous rules and with Moldova (2022), North Macedonia and Montenegro (both 2023) under the new rules.
Next steps
Once the European Parliament has given its consent to the agreement it can be finally concluded by the Council.
The agreement enters into force on the first day of the second month following the date on which Albania and the EU have notified each other of the completion of their ratification procedures.
- Strengthening the EU’s external border (background information)
- Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Albania on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Albania
- Council decision on the agreement between the EU and the Republic of Albania on activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency
Source – EU Council