He will negotiate on the deployment of Frontex in Montenegro and the region

The European Commission adopted the recommendation of the Council to approve the opening of negotiations on the deployment of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) on the borders of Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Brussels, they assess that migration remains an area in which more intensive cooperation with the Western Balkan countries must be done.
The Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Ilva Johansson, said that they are committed to supporting partners in the Western Balkans and strengthening cooperation in migration management.
"Therefore, we propose to negotiate status agreements under a new legal framework that would allow Frontex to be deployed in all four partner countries with a full mandate, to ensure that their borders continue to be respected and protected in line with European best practices." , Johansson said.
The Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelji, believes that this package is timely, because migration remains an area in which more intensive cooperation with the Western Balkan countries must be done.
"Given the increased migratory pressure in the region, we are focusing on strengthening border protection, combating smuggling networks and intensifying returns from the region. To this end, we will provide increased political and financial assistance. Between 2021 and 2024, we intend to increase our funding by a total 60 percent, to at least EUR 350 million for our Western Balkan partners. This will support the Western Balkans in all areas of developing an effective migration management system, including asylum and reception, border security and return. We count on the commitment of our Western Balkan partners to make these actions be successful," said Varhelji.
As announced, the Commission will, with the support of Frontex, strengthen the capacities of partners from the Western Balkans in their management of migration, the fight against smuggling and ensuring security.
According to the current status agreements between Frontex and Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, the deployment of the permanent corps can only take place at the borders of countries with the presence of the EU and without the exercise of executive powers. Under the new legal framework, the status agreement will allow a Frontex permanent corps to be deployed in a third country at both the EU and third country borders and to exercise executive powers. Therefore, the new status agreements will better support and strengthen cooperation in border management in the Western Balkans. The aid package adopted today follows a detailed needs assessment established with the authorities of the Western Balkans. Support is focused on border management capacities in the region mainly through the provision of specialized equipment.
As a reminder, the Commission yesterday adopted a new aid package worth 39.2 million euros within the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) to strengthen border management in the Western Balkans.
This package, it is stated, brings the total bilateral and regional support adopted in this area under IPA III to 171.7 million euros.