Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, has agreed with the Spanish authorities to continue its numerous operations to support Spain at its external borders.
“We now have the operational and legal framework for all activities in Spain for the next 12 months,” said Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri.
Frontex has 257 officers deployed to support Spain in the Western Mediterranean as part of operation Indalo and on the Canary Islands, including 11 directly employed by Frontex (Category 1, Statutory Staff).
Frontex has significantly expanded its support on the Canary Islands in recent month and currently has 26 officers supporting the registration of irregular migrants, determining their nationality and collecting information about criminal groups involved in people smuggling.
In addition to assisting with migration management, Frontex works very closely with Spain to tackle cross-border crime, including drug smuggling.
“We now can rely on our own officers who are part of the European Border and Coast Guard standing corps, so we are ready to increase our operational footprint in close cooperation with Spanish authorities,” said Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri.
Later this year, Frontex will relaunch operation Minerva, in which Frontex officers each year assist Spain in handling the large number of travellers arriving by ferries from Africa during the summer months.
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