Thematic meeting on border control inter-agency co-operation held in Split

The formal opening was attended by the Croatian Defence Minister, Josip Buljević and the Minister of the Interior, Vlaho Orepić, the Frontex Executive Director, Fabrice Leggeri, Ms Alexandra Zvalova of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic as the current EU presiding country, and representatives of the Croatian Navy and the Coast Guard.

The meeting was convened to discuss the current migration issues and the response by the EU and the establishment of the European Border and Coast Guard and the respective Agency. The establishment of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency was declared a major step towards enhanced border control, maritime security, surveillance, search and rescue, customs controls, fishing control and environment protection.  The meeting was followed by a joint exercise entailing the reception and assistance to migrants and a terrorist threat occuring in the Split aquatorium.

Minister Buljević welcomed the establishment and operation of Frontex and the European Border and Coast Guard on behalf of the Republic of Croatia, and praised the new Frontex mandate as the border and coast guard agency. “The Republic of Croatia views it as a progress and is ready to take on its share of responsibility. The Croatian Ministry of Defence  firmly encourages the national interagency co-ordination, particularly in the domain of the national border control. 
The Croatian Minister of the Interior  Vlaho Orepić emphasised the benefit of the meeting and the exercise for unity as the imperative for the members of the EU.
The Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri  said that the co-operation can serve as guidance for all EU member countries:  “Our responsiblilty is to improve co-operation and establish best operational solutions for te EU and its citizens, The new EU legislation on the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and new Frontex responsibilities constitute a major step ahead.
The border control in the Republic of Croatia are a responsibility of the State Border Department of the General Police Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior. The recent migration crisis highlighted the necessity of close co-ordination and support from other government administration bodies.

The member countries may request the allocation of the resources of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency to prevent crisis situations and interventions along the outer borders in the event of imminent or major migrant influx. They can also request joint operations and rapid  interventions along the borders and the deployment of the units of border and Coast guard in support to those efforts.
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