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Decentralised agency

European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex)

Logo of European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex)

Overview

  • Role: Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, supports EU and Schengen countries in the management of the EU’s external borders and the fight against cross-border crime.

    Frontex is a centre of excellence for border control activities at the EU’s external borders, sharing intelligence and expertise with all EU countries, as well as the neighbouring non-EU countries affected by migratory trends and cross-border crime.

  • Director: Hans Leijtens
  • Established in: 2004
  • Number of staff: over 2100 (March 2023)
  • Budget: €845.4 million (2023)
  • Location: Warsaw (Poland)
  • Website: Frontex

What it does

Frontex supports EU and Schengen countries in all aspects related to border management, from support on the ground and fighting cross-border crime, aerial surveillance and collecting information, to help with return procedures, identifying new technologies and many others. 

With the standing corps, the European Union’s first uniformed law enforcement service, Frontex has transformed into an operational arm of the EU. Hundreds of officers are taking part in operations at the external borders of the European Union and beyond. 

Today, Frontex provides security and ensures safe and well-functioning external borders. It is the biggest and fastest growing EU agency.

Frontex’s mandate is laid down in its legal basis.

Who benefits

Frontex is where European countries and neighbours need support in making the EU’s Schengen area safer and more secure.

With more than 2,000 standing corps officers and staff working at the EU’s external borders, patrol cars, planes and boats supporting national authorities with border control and fighting crime, Frontex has become a true operational body of the European Union. 

Our operations span across the European Union, from the EU’s eastern borders, through the Western Balkans, down to Greece and Cyprus. The agency is active outside the EU with operations in Moldova, Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania.

With hundreds of millions of travellers entering the Schengen area every year, one of the biggest challenges for border authorities is to swiftly detect any criminal activity without causing delays for passengers. Frontex, together with other EU institutions and 30 European countries, is implementing ETIAS – a travel authorisation system for visa-free nationals – which further strengthens the EU’s internal security while ensuring smooth border crossings of travellers. 
 

Contact

Frontex

Name
Frontex
Website
https://frontex.europa.eu/
Phone number
+48 22 205 95 00
Fax number
+48 22 205 95 01
Postal address
Plac Europejski 6, 00-844 Warsaw, Poland
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