The European Union and the surveillance of its external borders

The European Union has taken new steps to tighten the security of its external borders.

România Internațional, 23.10.2013, 14:21

Following the recent death of almost 200 illegal immigrants off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the European Union has taken new steps to tighten the security of its external borders.

The EU General Affairs Council on Tuesday approved the creation of a European Border Surveillance System known as EUROSUR in an attempt to tighten the Union’s sea and land borders. The new system will allow member states to exchange operational information more quickly and cooperate with Frontex, the European border security agency so as to reduce the number of illegal immigrants.

The system will also help increase internal security by combating cross-border crime and drug and human trafficking. EUROSUR will first become operational in December in 18 member states, including Romania. Attending the meeting of the EU General Affairs Council, Romanian foreign affairs secretary of state George Ciamba voiced his country’s support for a political message that reiterates the importance of intensifying joint efforts to combat illegal migration.

He noted Romania’s contribution to the Aeneas 2013 joint operation European Patrol Network run by FRONTEX in which a vessel of the Romanian Border Police took part in a mission carried out on Italy’s sea border together with other European states. The Romanian vessel intercepted a record number of 1,000 illegal immigrants.