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Summaries of EU Legislation

Frontex status agreements with non-EU countries

SUMMARY OF:

Agreement between the EU and Moldova on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Moldova

Decision (EU) 2022/449 on the signing, on behalf of the EU, and provisional application of the Agreement between the EU and Moldova on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Moldova

Decision (EU) 2022/544 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the EU and Moldova on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Moldova

Agreement between the EU and North Macedonia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in North Macedonia

Decision (EU) 2022/1958 on the signing, on behalf of the EU, of the Agreement between the EU and North Macedonia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in North Macedonia

Decision (EU) 2023/418 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the EU and North Macedonia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in North Macedonia

Agreement between the EU and Montenegro on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Montenegro

Decision (EU) 2023/1040 on the signing, on behalf of the EU, and provisional application of the Agreement between the EU and Montenegro on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Montenegro

Decision (EU) 2023/2760 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the EU and Montenegro on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Montenegro

Agreement between the EU and Albania on actions carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Albania

Council Decision (EU) 2023/2105 on the signing and provisional application of the Agreement between the EU and Albania on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Albania

Decision (EU) 2024/1169 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the EU and Albania on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Albania

Agreement between the EU and Serbia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Serbia

Decision (EU) 2024/1639 on the signing, on behalf of the EU, of the Agreement between the EU and Sebia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Serbia

Decision (EU) 2025/479 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the EU and Serbia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Serbia

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE AGREEMENTS AND DECISIONS?

  • The agreements allow for border management teams from the European Border and Coast Guard standing corps to be deployed by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to the respective non-EU countries, upon request of those countries, where the members of the standing corps are able to exercise executive powers.
  • The decisions approve the signature and the conclusion of the agreements between the countries concerned and the EU.
  • Similar agreements with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are expected to enter into force in the first quarter of 2025.

KEY POINTS

The relevant non-EU country may request that Frontex’s executive director launch an operational activity on its territory, which would entail the deployment of border management teams from the standing corps with executive powers. Staff deployed by Frontex under a status agreement remain, at all times, under the command and control of the authorities of the host country.

Operational activities

  • Status agreements allow for the conducting of joint operations1 and rapid border interventions2 on the territory of the non-EU country.
  • Any activity under a status agreement must be conducted in accordance with an operational plan agreed between Frontex and the relevant non-EU country authority.
  • The operational plan sets out in detail:
    • the description and assessment of the situation and operational objectives;
    • the geographical scope of the action and description of tasks;
    • the composition of teams and other relevant staff;
    • any technical equipment to be deployed;
    • cooperation with other agencies, non-EU countries and international organisations;
    • respect for fundamental rights, including personal data protection.

Border management teams

The members of a border management team:

  • have the authority and powers necessary for border control as set out in the operational plan;
  • operate under instructions from, and in the presence of, relevant authorities of the country concerned;
  • may, subject to certain conditions, carry and use weapons;
  • receive an accreditation document confirming their identity and right to work under the operational plan.

Fundamental rights obligations

  • All status agreements mandate respect for fundamental rights and the protection of personal data by all participants in an operational activity.
  • The parties must establish a complaints mechanism allowing any alleged violations of fundamental rights to be reported.
  • The respective host non-EU countries agree to allow the monitoring of all activities under a status agreement by the fundamental rights officer and the deployment of fundamental rights monitors.

Suspension or termination of an operational activity under a status agreement

Frontex’s executive director must withdraw financing from, suspend or terminate an activity in cases where, among other things, an operational plan is not being properly implemented, or the executive director considers that serious violations of fundamental rights or international protection obligations related to the activity concerned exist or are likely to persist. The non-EU country may request the termination of an activity under the status agreement or unilaterally suspend or terminate the agreement (and thus any activity thereunder).

Termination

Either party may suspend or terminate the agreement in writing.

DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

Agreements based on Frontex’s current (2019) mandate (under Regulation (EU) 2019/1896):

CountryEntry into forceProvisional application
Albania
Montenegro
Serbian/a*
Moldova
North Macedonian/a*

* These agreements do not provide for provisional application.

KEY TERMS

  1. Joint operation. An initiative to tackle illegal immigration or cross-border crime, or provide technical and operational assistance at the borders of the country concerned with a Member State.
  2. Rapid border intervention. An initiative responding quickly to specific and disproportionate challenges on the borders of the country concerned with a Member State.

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Moldova (OJ L 91, , pp. 4–21).

Council Decision (EU) 2022/449 of on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Moldova (OJ L 91, , pp. 1–3).

Council Decision (EU) 2022/544 of on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Moldova (OJ L 107, , pp. 16–17).

Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of North Macedonia (OJ L 61, , pp. 3–19).

Council Decision (EU) 2022/1958 of on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of North Macedonia (OJ L 270, , pp. 1–3).

Council Decision (EU) 2023/418 of on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of North Macedonia (OJ L 61, , pp. 1–2).

Agreement between the European Union and Montenegro on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Montenegro (OJ L 140, , pp. 4–21).

Council Decision (EU) 2023/1040 of on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Agreement between the European Union and Montenegro on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Montenegro (OJ L 140, , pp. 1–3).

Council Decision (EU) 2023/2760 of on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and Montenegro on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Montenegro (OJ L, 2023/2760, ).

Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Albania on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Albania (OJ L, 2023/2107, ).

Council Decision (EU) 2023/2105 of on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Albania on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Albania (OJ L, 2023/2105, ).

Council Decision (EU) 2024/1169 of on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Albania on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Albania (OJ L, 2024/1169, ).

Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia (OJ L, 2025/480, ).

Council Decision (EU) 2024/1639 of on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia (OJ L, 2024/1639, ).

Council Decision (EU) 2025/479 of on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia (OJ L, 2025/479, ).

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