Frontex partners with European Commission for border security biometrics and innovation

European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex will assist the European Commission by delivering best practices in border security to develop biometrics and other advanced security technology for the border and coast guard community to fend off emerging threats, the agency reported.

Frontex has entered a partnership with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, built on Terms of Reference signed by Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri and the Director General of Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs Monique Pariat.

As stated in the Terms of Reference, Frontex will identify gaps in surveillance, situational awareness, biometrics, cybersecurity and information availability and exchange, come up with research suggestions to investigate gaps, provide its framework of Frontex Joint Operations for operational testing and validation, observe research conclusions and estimate relevance for operational needs, and actively plan and define the European Border and Coast Guard capability guidebooks with expertise gained from reach projects.

Frontex brings to the table some 15 years of experience in integrated border management research and innovation, which can be leveraged to enhance border security.

Frontex will support the implementation of the Framework Programs for Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe). The Horizon 2020 Work Program 2018-2020 for Secure Societies reports a €118 million (US$129 million) budget in EU grants for solutions related to “Border and External Security.”

The EC has been working towards enabling biometric data sharing between regional authorities to support national agencies in border control and management.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  border management  |  cybersecurity  |  data sharing  |  European Commission  |  Frontex  |  surveillance