Implementation of the regulation on the European Border and Coast Guard begins

The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to prepare the national legislative amendments required by the regulation on the European Border and Coast Guard. The regulation entered into force in December 2019.

The EU regulation on the European Border and Coast Guard will reinforce the operational capacities of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), support return operations while respecting fundamental rights, and incorporate the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) into the European Border and Coast Guard framework. In future, the European Border and Coast Guard will be composed of Frontex and the national authorities responsible for border management, as well as the national authorities responsible for returns.

The European Border and Coast Guard was established by a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council in 2016 to ensure border security at external borders. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency and the Member States share the responsibility for external border control. However, the Member States have the primary responsibility for the management of their sections of the external borders.

Amendments due to come into force at the beginning of next year

The regulation will require amendments at least to the Border Guard Act (578/2005), the Police Act (872/2011) and the Act on the Processing of Personal Data by the Border Guard (639/2019). The need for changes will be assessed in more detail in the project working group, which will include representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the police, Customs and the Finnish Immigration Service. In addition, the working group will consult the Office of the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman.

The project will support the joint strategy for the Ministry of the Interior’s administrative branch by addressing in particular the security of people, the environment and property, the prevention of threats to national security, and the fact that immigration is well-managed and socially sustainable.

The project term is from 6 February to 31 December 2020. The aim is for a government proposal to be submitted to Parliament during the autumn session 2020. The amendments are scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2021.

Inquiries:

Matti Pitkäniitty, Head of the International Affairs Unit of the Finnish Border Guard, tel. +358 295 421 131, [email protected]
Jaana Heikkinen, Senior Adviser for Legislative Affairs, tel. +358 295 421 603, [email protected]