The European Commission recommended opening negotiations to allow Frontex deployment on the borders of four Western Balkans countries, a press release said.

“The Commission adopted a recommendation to the Council to authorise the opening of negotiations of upgraded European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s (Frontex) status agreements between the EU and Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, as well as with Bosnia and Herzegovina,” it said and added that the Commission adopted a new assistance package worth 39.2 million Euro under IPA III to strengthen border management in the Western Balkans.

It quoted Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson as saying that the EU is committed to strengthening cooperation on migration management with those countries. “We propose to negotiate status agreements under the new legal framework that would allow for the deployment of Frontex to all four partner countries with the full power of its mandate, to ensure that their borders continue to be respected and protected in line with European best practices,” she said.

Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi is quoted as saying that the EU is focusing on strengthening border protection, fighting the smuggling networks and stepping up returns from region because of the increased migratory pressure in the region. “Between 2021 and 2024, we intend to increase our funding by 60% to at least €350 million euro for our Western Balkan partners. …We count on the commitment our Western Balkan partners to make these actions a success,” he said.

Border and migration management in the Western Balkans – This package is timely, as #migration remains an area where we need to work even more closely with our #WesternBalkan partners.

⤵️ press statement: https://t.co/ud2fRuflIb pic.twitter.com/6hs5Yx0aRX

— Oliver Varhelyi (@OliverVarhelyi) October 25, 2022

The press release said that existing status agreements between Frontex and Albania, Serbia and Montenegro allow deployment only take place at those countries’ borders with the EU without executive powers but that new status agreements will allow Frontex to deploy both at the EU border and at the borders with third countries with executive powers.