The Council of the European Union (EU) has adopted a decision on the signing of an agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).
After the European Parliament (EP) gives its consent, the agreement can be signed, and it will allow the EU and BiH to organize joint operations involving Frontex and BiH border guards, Anadolu reports.
This means that Frontex border management teams can be deployed in BiH, which will allow Frontex to assist the country in managing migration, combating illegal migration and fighting cross-border crime.
Frontex can carry out actions related to EU border management on the territory of a third country – with the consent of that country.
Since the adoption of the new regulation in 2019, Frontex staff can exercise executive powers in a third country, such as border checks and registration of persons.
In 2022, the Council approved the opening of negotiations with four Western Balkan partners on cooperation with Frontex.
Since then, the EU has signed border management cooperation agreements with Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro.
