frontexwatch

Frontex published its General Report 2009: 54 pages, pdf

Last December (2009), the European Union decided upon the Stockholm Programme, its 5-year-plan for Justice and Home Affairs (check here and here). The Programme itself is more of a framework and doesn’t conclusively state what is exactly to come. For that, there is the Stockholm Action Programme.

Statewatch released the Commission Proposal, along with an analysis and a briefing. For more information, see also here.

I started to extract all activities mentioned in the plan connected to Frontex. But since Frontex is only a part of the European border and migration regime, I extracted more relevant parts and highlighted what I found relevant (there is an extra part titled “Effective policies to combat illegal immigration”!). Here it is:

More effective European law enforcement cooperation (p32)

• 2011: Proposal on information exchange between Europol, Eurojust and Frontex

Integrated management of the external borders (p44)

• 2010: Proposal to amend the Frontex Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004
• 2010: Second progress report on the European Border Surveillance System (Eurosur)
• 2010: Frontex to consider, within its mandate, establishing regional and/or specialised offices
• 2010-2011: Legislative proposal amending the Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EC) No 562/2006)
• 2011: Legislative proposal to set up Entry Exit System (EES)
• 2011: Legislative proposal to set up Registered Traveller Programme (RTP)
• 2011: European Asylum Support Office (EASO) to develop methods to better identify those who are in EASO need of international protection in mixed flows, and to cooperate with Frontex wherever possible
• 2011: Legislative proposals on Eurosur development
• 2011/2013: Development and entry into operation of the Schengen Information System II (SIS II)
• 2012: Start of operations of the Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice
• 2012: Communication on the better cooperation, coordination, integration and rationalisation of the different checks carried out at the external borders with a view to twin the objective of facilitating access and improving security
• 2014: Communication on the long term development of FRONTEX including the feasibility of the creation of a European system of border guards
• ongoing: Use of the CRMS (Community Risk Management System) in order to exchange risk information between customs offices at the border and further development of the common risk assessment, criteria and standards for management, security and safety at the external borders
• ongoing: Strengthened cooperation of ports, airports and land borders on all matters of relevance for the management of the external border

Visa policy (p46)

• 2010: Finalisation of visa dialogues with Western Balkans
• 2010/ongoing: Handbook on the practical application of the Visa Code and regular updates Negotiation, signature and conclusion of Visa Facilitation Agreements with third countries
• Dec 2010: Development and entry into operation of the Visa Information System (VIS) and gradual roll out of the VIS
• 2011: Communication on Regional consular cooperation programmes and on the setting up of common visa application centres
• 2011: Communication on the possibility of introducing an EU-ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)
• 2013: Communication on the evaluation of the implementation of the Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009)
• 2014: Communication on a new concept of the European visa policy and assessing the possibility of establishing a common European issuing mechanism for short term visas
• 2014: Evaluation of the VIS
• ongoing: Follow up of Visa Reciprocity (negotiation and conclusion of visa waiver agreements, regular visa reciprocity reports)
• ongoing: Regular reviews of the list of third countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders and propose periodically revisions of Regulation (EC) No 539/2001
• ongoing: Regular meetings of the Joint Committees monitoring the implementation of visa facilitation and readmission agreements with third countries

Asylum (p48)

• 2011: Communication on increased coherence between immigration Policy and other relevant EU policies, in particular on how to strengthen the link between the development of migration policy and the Europe 2020 strategy
  ongoing: Annual Reports on Immigration and Asylum (implementation of the European Pact and as from 2011 on the Stockholm Programme)

Statistics (p48)

• 2010-2011: Measures aiming at: (a) the adoption by the European Statistical System Committee of a conceptual framework and work Member States programme for the development of statistics on migration and for the mainstreaming of migration topics across social and economic statistics; (b) the Development of additional disaggregation to be applied to statistics on asylum, on residence permits issued to third-country nationals and on enforcement of immigration legislation, possibly including a proposal for a Commission Regulation implementing Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007
• 2012: Report on the application of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 311/76 on the compilation of statistics on foreign workers

A dynamic and comprehensive migration policy (p49)

Consolidating, developing and implementing the EU Global Approach to Migration (p49)

• 2011: Communication on the evaluation and future development of the Global Approach to Migration
• ongoing: Pursuing EU political dialogue missions on migration as a way to engage dialogue on this issue with third countries falling under the Global Approach
• ongoing: Launching of migration profile processes (including capacity building and the use of the migration profile as a tool for policy definition, cooperation programming, evaluation) with key countries
• ongoing: Further development of mobility partnerships supported by appropriate financial means
• ongoing: Further establishment of cooperation platforms facilitating the coordination among relevant actors
• ongoing: Enhancing migration dialogue within the Eastern Partnership
• ongoing: Pursuing and improving the implementation of the EU/Africa Partnership on migration, mobility and employment, supported by appropriate financial means, and the preparation of a EU-Africa Senior Official Meeting on this partnership during the second semester 2010
• 2010-2011: Concretising the follow-up of the Rabat/Paris Process through the implementation of the Cooperation programme and the preparation of the Dakar Conference in 2011 supported by appropriate financial means).
• ongoing: Developing the EU/LAC dialogue on migration
• ongoing: Enhancing cooperation with India, Afghanistan and Pakistan on migration issues, as well as with Central Asia, on a regional basis.

Migration and development (p50)

• 2011: Communication on the effects of climate change on international migration, including its potential effects on immigration to the European Union
• 2010: Communication on maximising the positive and minimising the negative aspects of immigration on Development (circular migration, remittances including the feasibility of creating a common EU portal on remittances; development of Diaspora networks and promoting the participation of migrant communities to development projects in the countries of origin, Migrants’ rights, Brain drain)
• ongoing: Support the establishment of a migration observatory network in ACP countries
• Supporting third countries in defining and implementing their migration policy through our cooperation in particular within sub-Saharan Africa, namely through the opening of new migration Centre in key African countries

A concerted policy in keeping with national labour-market requirements (p51)

• 2010: Proposal for a Directive on conditions of admission of third country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer
• 2010: Proposal for a Directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of seasonal employment
• 2010,2011: Report on the application of Directive 2004/114/EC on the conditions of admission of third-country nationals for the purposes of studies, pupil exchange, unremunerated training or voluntary service, followed by a proposal for a modification of the Directive
• 2011: Report on the Directive 2003/109/EC concerning the status of third-country nationals who are longterm residents and possible follow-up
• 2011: Report on Directive 2005/71/EC on a specific procedure for admitting third-country nationals for the purposes of scientific research and possible follow-up
• 2012: Communication on addressing labour shortages through migration in EU Member States
• 2014: Report on the application of Directive 2009/50/EC on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment
• ongoing: Further development of the European Migration Network with a view to better informing policy choices, which also takes account of recent developments

Proactive policies for migrants and their rights (p52)

• 2010: Green Paper on the right to family reunification
• 2012: Proposal for a modification of Directive 2003/86/EC on the right to family reunification
• 2013: Immigration code – Consolidation of legislation in the area of legal immigration taking into account the evaluation of the existing legislation, needs for simplification and where necessary extend the existing provisions to categories of workers currently not covered by EU legislation

Integration (p53)

• 2010: Launch of the third edition of the ‘Handbook on Integration for policy-makers and practitioners’
• 2010: Report to the 2010 Ministerial Conference on Integration
• 2011: Communication on an EU agenda for integration, including the development of a coordination mechanism

Effective policies to combat illegal immigration (p53)

• 2010: Communication on the evaluation of readmission agreements and on the development of a coherent strategy on readmission taking into account the overall relations with the country concerned, including a common approach towards third countries that do not cooperate in readmitting their own nationals
• 2011: Communication on the evaluation on the common policy on return and on its future development (including support measures for return and reintegration of persons readmitted, capacity building in third countries; disseminating information in destination countries regarding returning and reintegration opportunities, network of liaison officers in countries of origin and transit)
• 2012: Legislative proposal amending Directive 2002/90/EC defining the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence (and possibly merge with Framework Decision 2002/946/JHA on the strengthening of the penal framework to prevent the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence; and extending existing provisions)
• 2014: Report on Directive 2009/52/EC providing for minimum standards on sanctions and measures against employers of illegally staying third-country nationals
• 2014: Report on the implementation of the return Directive 2008/115/EC
• ongoing: Further efforts on negotiating and concluding readmission agreements with Turkey, Morocco; Algeria; Egypt; Libya, China, Afghanistan, Iraq and Bangladesh and exploration of the possibilities of concluding readmission agreements with other third countries

Unaccompanied minors (p54)

• 2010: Communication on an Action plan on unaccompanied minors in the migration process

Asylum: a common area of protection and solidarity (p55)

A common area of protection (p55)

• 2012: Communication on Eurodac development, namely on the feasibility on its development into a supporting tool for the entire Common European Asylum System (CEAS)
• 2014: Communication on the appropriateness, the possibilities and the difficulties as well as the legal and practical implications of joint processing of asylum applications within the Union
• 2013: Report of the Commission on the legal and practical consequences of the EU’s accession to the Geneva Convention and its 1967 Protocol
• 2013: First evaluation report on the EASO’s impact on practical cooperation and on the Common European Asylum System
• 2014: Commission’s communication on a framework for the transfer of protection of beneficiaries of international protection and mutual recognition of asylum decisions
  Development of a common methodology with a view to reducing disparities of asylum decisions

Sharing of responsibilities and solidarity between the Member States (p56)

• 2011: Establishing a mechanism to review the Member States’ national asylum systems and identify the issues related to capacities which will enable Member States to support each other in building capacity
• 2011: Communication on enhanced intra-EU solidarity
• 2011: Evaluation and development of procedures for facilitation of the secondment of officials in order to help those Member States facing particular pressures of asylum seekers

The external dimension of asylum (p56)

• 2011: Establish strategic partnership with UNHCR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
• 2012: Mid-term evaluation of the EU Resettlement Programme
• 2013: Communication on new approaches concerning access to asylum procedures targeting main transit countries
• 2014: Proposal on how to improve the EU Resettlement Programme
• ongoing: Annual Reports on EU resettlement efforts
• ongoing: Launching and developing new Regional Protection Programmes, including in the horn of Africa

So the Commission proposed an amendment to the Frontex regulation.

Here are the official documents:

COM(2010) 61 final: Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 establishing a European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX)

SEC(2010) 149: COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT accompanying the Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 establishing a European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX)

SEC(2010) 150: COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT accompanying the Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 establishing a European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX)

Today, February 24 2010, the European Commission through its Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, has proposed a new Regulation to strengthen Frontex.

While the full text of the COM is not yet available, the press conference, as well as some articles that have already appeared, allow to glean what is to come.

1. Operations: There is supposed to be a “revised mechanism” to make Frontex operations stronger. The problem seems to be that Member States pledge to support operations with resources and staff, but don’t follow up, at times leaving operations with the resources and staff of the hosting country. Now, Frontex is supposed to announce a year beforehand what operations it is going to run. Member States than “signalise” what they are willing to contribute, and will then be bound by their pledge. Also, Frontex will be allowed to “gradually” lease material given the need. There will be no budget raise (at 80 M€ so far) in this budget term, so money will need to come from the current budget.

2. Coordination: Coordination remains the mandate for Frontex, this will not be changed. Frontex is supposed to be strengthened however (it was that vague at the presse conference) and is also supposed to be strengthened on the evaluation of operations. Member States should also be forced to provide more information for risk analysis.

3. Third Countries: Frontex should be allowed to supply “technical assistance” to Third Countries and to also station liaison officers there.

4. Fundamental rights: Deportation flights are supposed to respect fundamental human rights and should also be monitored by an NGO representative (eg Red Cross). This is supposed to function through an “obligatory code of conduct”. Frontex is also supposed to continue its training of national border guards on fundamental human rights and international law, e.g. the law of non-refoulement. Frontex is also supposed to work closely with the new Asylum support office in Malta and the EU Human Rights agency in Vienna.

Several journalists asked if this meant that Frontex had before indeed violated human rights. Ms Malmström said, this was before her time, but later acknowledged that there might have been incidents: “There have been errors”.

The proposal will be submitted to the Council and the Parliament. Ms Malmsträm also stated that she would make more proposals in due time on asylum, possibilities of legal migration and the “fight against illegal migration”, asking for a “coherent and holistic view on migration and asylum in the EU”.

Further clues: One journalist wanted to know if the EU was negotiating with Libya on migration. Ms Malmström denied that.

Ms Malmström hinted that Frontex might be coordinating even more deportation flights (31 in 2009 with about 1.500 people deported).

Mr Barrot, Ms Malmström’s predecessor, started negotiating a cooperation treaty between Frontex and Turkey. There are regular contacts, and Ms Malmström seemed content that there would be a treaty.

On the Regional Frontex Office in Piraeus, Greece. Ms Malmström stated it was pilot project, to “reinforce what was already in the region”. It would certainly be linked to the Greek authorities and should be “up and running soon”. If it turns out to be successful, setting up more such offices is considered.

Information sharing between Frontex and other EU Agencies such as Europol, Sitcen etc. This is not in the proposal although it was identified as a problem. Ms Malmström will propose a general revision (read: liberalisation) of data sharing mechanisms in the EU.

Will Frontex have its own border guards? “It could be possible to have a pool of […] human resources”, but Frontex will certainly not be a European Border Guard, that is not its function.

On Malta’s refusal to participate in operations if migrants detained will be brought to the host country instead of the nearest port. Ms Malmström stated that the law of the sea gives indications how this is to be handled, and that the mechanism would be set up beforehand.

Questioned why Frontex is researching the use of UAVs/drones in border control, although these techs are developed for war, Ms Malmström stated that they are not being used, that there is research, but there has not been any decision yet.

This post will be updated as we go along, so stay tuned.

Nachdem der Unmut über Frontex nach dem gestrigen Bericht in Report Mainz zumindest im Internet gut sichtbar ist, geht Frontex in die Gegenoffensive. Associated Press berichtet:

Die Europäische Grenzschutzagentur Frontex hat Medienberichte zurückgewiesen, denen zufolge tausende Bootsflüchtlinge mitten auf der Überfahrt Richtung Europa zur Umkehr gezwungen wurden. Zwar seien im vergangenen Jahr tatsächlich 5.969 Bootsflüchtlinge nach Senegal oder Mauretanien zurückgeschickt worden, teilte ein Frontex-Sprecher am Dienstag unter Verweis auf eine bereits im Februar veröffentlichte Statistik mit. Sie hätten sich aber noch in den Hoheitsgewässern der beiden westafrikanischen Staaten befunden, dies bedeute eine Entfernung von rund 22 Kilometern von der Küste.

Das widerspricht sich zwar mit den Aussagen in dem Film, ist meiner Meinung nach nicht ganz unplausibel. Denn tatsächlich patroulliert Frontex die Küstengewässer Senegals und Mauretaniens, also da, wo Leute ablegen. Die gesamte Strecke bis zu den Kanarischen Inseln zu überwachen wäre etwas sehr aufwendig, sogar mit den ganzen Hightechsatellitenspielzeug, mit dem Frontex so gerne angibt.

Den Fällen aus der Doku von Report Mainz muss auf jeden Fall nachgegangen werden, aber die Frage, die abseits der ganzen menschenrechtlichen Kritik gestellt werden muss, ist doch vielmehr: Wollen wir, dass die europäische Grenze vor Westafrika verläuft? Das ist doch der eigentliche Skandal.

Lief gerade in der ARD: Report Mainz – Krieg gegen Flüchtlinge.

Die EU-Grenzschutzagentur FRONTEX hat im vergangenen Jahr 5.969 Menschen auf See abgefangen und nach Afrika zurückgeschickt. Das berichtet das ARD-Politikmagazin REPORT MAINZ heute Abend um 21:45 Uhr im ERSTEN. Die Abfangmanöver wurden im Rahmen der Operation „Hera 2008“ durchgeführt. Deutschland stellt für Frontex-Einsätze Bundespolizisten sowie Hubschrauber und leistet finanzielle Unterstützung. Flüchtlinge aus dem Senegal beschreiben in REPORT MAINZ, wie ihr Boot auf See aufgebracht wurde: „Wir hatten nur noch drei Tage zu fahren, da hat uns ein Polizeischiff aufgehalten. Sie wollten uns kein Wasser geben. Sie haben gedroht, unser Boot zu zerstören, wenn wir nicht sofort umkehren. Wir waren fast verdurstet und hatten auch Leichen an Bord. Trotzdem mussten wir zurück nach Senegal.“ Amnesty International, Pro Asyl und der Evangelische Entwicklungsdienst bestätigen auf Anfrage von REPORT MAINZ übereinstimmend solche Berichte.

Und außerdem noch ein Video, was anscheinend im Vorlauf des Grenzcamps auf Lesbos, Griechenland entstanden ist und die Agentur Frontex ein bisschen erklärt.

Seit heute verfügbar: Die neue Frontexbroschüre, herausgegeben von der Informationsstelle Militarisierung und dort auch erhältlich: Frontex – Widersprüche im erweiterten Grenzraum.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Grundlagen

• Einleitung der Karawane für die Rechte der Flüchtlinge und MigrantInnen, München
• Frontex: Das nachrichtendienstliche Vorfeld
• Operative Einsätze an den Außengrenzen
• Das Agenturwesen der EU
• Die Evaluierungen von Frontex und das Border Package

Frontex im Einsatz

• Abschiebeagentur Frontex?
• Von Grauzonen und Legalisierungen der anderen Art. Frontex im Mittelmeer
• Go East! – „Europäische Nachbarschaftspolitik“ und Frontex in der Ukraine
• RABITS: EU-Polizei für den chronischen Ausnahmezustand?
• Frontex im sicherheitsindustriellen Komplex

Widerständige Perspektiven

• Jenseits von Staat und Nation. Warum Frontex abzuschaffen ist
• „frontex in a nutshell“ – das Hauptquartier packt aus
• Bremer Raumfahrtindustrie und Flüchtlingsabwehr für die EU
• GASIM – das deutsche Pendant zu Frontex
• Frontexplode – Erste Ansätze einer transnationalen Kampagne
• Aktionen gegen das FRONTEX-Ausbildungszentrum in Lübeck
• Appell von Bamako

Die Broschüre kann bei der IMI bestellt werden oder als pdf heruntergeladen werden. Die erste Broschüre von 2008 ist leider vergriffen, es gibt sie nur noch als pdf.

Schon klar, war eine längere Pause. Viel ist passiert, wenig ist hier geschrieben worden. Jetzt soll es aber weitergehen.

Italien scheint ja mit seinem Vorhaben, Libyen in das Grenzregime einzubinden, voranzukommen. Dafür hat Italien schon mal 3.7 Mrd. Euro springen lassen, aber es bleibt weiter teuer. Die Times of Malta weiß:

Libya asks EU for $1bn to combat immigration

Libya has asked Brussels for $1 billion (€707 million) worth of technical assistance and equipment in exchange for more collaboration with Europe on the illegal immigration front.

Following its recent decision to collaborate more closely with Italy and take back immigrants who had left from its shores, Libya is now piling pressure on the EU to provide it with boats, helicopters, trucks and other equipment in an attempt to patrol its borders.

In der spanischen Zeitung el dia wird ein neuer Trick beschrieben, der von den cayucos vor Westafrika benutzt wird, um der Überwachung zu entgehen:

Un cayuco con medio centenar de personas a bordo podría estar ya cerca del Archipiélago, después de que observadores internacionales en Mauritania comprobaran que la embarcación con los pasajeros se alejó de la costa del país africano, en la madrugada del pasado jueves, abarloada por un barco extranjero de grandes dimensiones para “burlar” el radar de la costa que detecta el movimiento de las embarcaciones.

Así lo aseguraron a EL DÍA las citadas fuentes, quienes precisaron que esos barcos, de bandera portuguesa, francesa y española, colaboran con los cayucos a la hora de alejarse del puerto, donde existe una fuerte vigilancia, aunque los organizadores de las travesías clandestinas buscan modos de esquivarla.

Das bedeutet ungefähr, dass ein Cayuco mit rund 50 Menschen letzten Dienstag von Mauretanien in See gestochen ist. Dabei hat sich das Boot hinter einem großen Boot versteckt hat, um den Küstenradar irrezuführen. Es wird behauptet, dass dies in Zusammenarbeit geschehe.

Weiter wird in dem Artikel berichtet, dass Frontex erwartet, dass aufgrund der Krise mehr Menschen die irreguläre Migration nach Europa versuchen werden, wenn auch verringert auf dem Luftweg, dies wäre zu teuer.

Der Start von Nautilus IV verzögert sich, das hatten wir schon vorgestern berichtet. Damals wollte sich noch niemand dazu äußern, es wurden “technische Probleme” angeführt. Wir hatten das schon bezweifelt, und nun scheint es bestätigt, auch wenn Frontex und die maltesische Regierung immer noch keinen Kommentar dazu abgeben wollen. Es geht vielmehr darum, wer die im Rahmen der Frontexmission abgefangenen Flüchtlinge und MigrantInnen aufnehmen soll. Italien weigert sich und meint, Malta wäre allein in der Pflicht.

Die Times of Malta schreibt aus Brüssel: Send rescued immigrants to Malta, Italy says.

Italy’s objections to accept illegal migrants were stalling the launch of this year’s Frontex patrols in the Mediterranean, EU sources said.

The sources, close to the ongoing negotiations, insisted that Italy was objecting to take any of the illegal immigrants that could be plucked to safety from the sea during the Nautilus IV mission. It wanted all such migrants to be taken to Malta instead.

“We have been trying to convince Italy over the past weeks that the Frontex mission will have to follow international rules that clearly lay down that survivors have to be taken to the closest safe port,” the sources said.

“However, Italy is still objecting to take to Lampedusa illegal immigrants rescued when the new mission starts. It is instead arguing they should all be taken to Malta as the host member state of this mission.”

The sources said Malta was strongly objecting to Italy’s arguments: “Malta is sticking to its position that this year’s mission should abide by the rules of engagement already established in past missions. This means that when immigrants are found outside its territorial waters they would be picked up by the mission’s assets and taken to the closest safe port as dictated by international rules”.

Ja, es geht also ganz handfest darum, sich vor der Verantwortung zu drücken. Italien und Malta wollen beide Frontexmissionen, die Migration und Flucht unterbinden. Aber da sich letztes Jahr herausgestellt hat, dass dies nicht möglich ist und dass Frontexmissionen kontraproduktiv wirken, will plötzlich niemand etwas mit den Ergebnissen der Mission zu tun haben. So wird das nichts….