External Borders Fund

Period: 2007-2013

Budget: EUR 2.152 million

Also part of the Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows Framework Programme, the External Borders Fund dedicates resources and action towards securing the external borders of the EU and Schengen Member States to ensure security for all citizens within the Schengen borders.

1. Implementation of a Common Integrated Border Management System

The first objective is to design and implement a common integrated border management system, utilizing the available resources to control and monitor the external borders of the EU. The projects and goals of this objective include:

• Implement the recommendations of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union

• Develop surveillance and other effective systems between border crossing points to control the external borders

• Engage in intelligence gathering regarding security at the borders

• Improve the registration process for persons crossing external borders

• Implement a high quality system for collecting statistical data

• Establish cooperation between authorities at border crossing points

• Improve the skills and actions of national border guards

• Increase the information exchange between national authorities

• Implement high management standards for external border activities

2. External Border Movement Management

The next objective to ensure efficient management of all the people crossing the external borders, which requires:

• Decipher new methods of controlling movement across border points

• Train border guards

• Exchange information and experience regarding border management, especially identifying forged documents

• Promote and implement IT data systems, such as SIS and VIS

• Ensure the analysis results produced by the Agency are implemented

3. Application of EU law

In order for any action to work, all EU laws must be applied in a similar fashion in each Member state, which requires:

• Promote similar education and training of each Member States' border guards

• Facilitate the exchange of border guards between states

• Encourage the use of similar technology along external borders

• Ensure and assist in the application of procedures in Member States

• Improve conditions at airports and sea ports

• Improve security at border crossing points

4. Improve Member States' Consular Services

Lastly, to further strengthen the security and borders of the EU, the following action should be taken to improve the done by Member States' consular services:

• Strengthen the network of immigration officers

• Assist consular services in investigating visa applications

• Disseminate and share information regarding flights with illegal immigrants

• Establish effective cooperation with airlines through education or training

• Introduce and implement uniform investigative practices and administrative procedures

• Establish cooperation and common practices among Member States Consular Services

• Establish common consular offices

The above objectives and requirements for secure and efficient border security can be achieved by improving and working on the following instruments and fields:

• Border crossing infrastructure, such as landing places and border stations

• Surveillance infrastructure between crossing points

• Vehicles, vessels, helicopters and other means of transport

• Operating equipment, such as document examination instruments, detection tools or terminals

• Instruments for real time of exchange of information

• ICT systems

• Exchange programmes for borders guards, immigration or consular officers

• Training and education

• Invest in development

• Design and undertake projects to help implement Agency recommendations

• Research innovative methods or practices

While this programme applies to the Members of the Schengen Area, Denmark, the United Kingdom and Ireland are not involved.

Like the 3 other Funds under the frame Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows framework programme, this programme is organised on a multiannual level, running from 2007 to 2010 and from 2011 to 2013.