FOREWORD—What this
report is about
The twenty-seven Member States are an area of increasing
prosperity, and with external land borders of 8,000 km and sea
borders of 80,000 km, migration to these countries is a considerable
attraction for those seeking the chance of a better life, or simply
trying to escape from their own countries for whatever reason.
The abolition of nearly all the internal borders makes it all
the more important that the external borders should be efficiently
policed, and that there should be close cooperation between the
border guards of the different States. The management of that
cooperation is the task of Frontex.
Frontex is a relatively new agency, set up less than
three years ago, and operational for barely two. As the importance
of its work is increasingly recognised, its budget has doubled
every year, and much is expected of it by the institutions and
the Member States—perhaps too much. We have looked at its
constitution and working methods, and at what it has achieved
in the course of its brief existence; and we have made suggestions
as to the direction its future work should take, and how its accountability
might be improved.
Immigration affects the Member States differently.
Some have no external borders other than their airports; others,
and Malta in particular, are by their position particularly vulnerable
to illegal immigration on a scale they can barely cope with. We
have made suggestions as to how such immigration is best managed,
what part other Member States can play in sharing the burden,
how Frontex is best placed to assist, and how the humanitarian
problems might be handled.
The United Kingdom would like to participate fully
in Frontex, but the Court of Justice has ruled that it cannot.
We have considered how this country might nevertheless play a
part in the operations organised by Frontex, and make use of its
great experience in the efficient policing of borders to assist
the other Member States.
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