article (DPERI/ DCRP do C.G. GNR): A GNR NA FRONTEX | 2017.
In the context of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX) a GNR tem participado, from 2005, in joint operations in the maritime sector and land, through the deployment of human resources and technical means.
Recent years have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of migrants and refugees seeking to enter the European Union (EU), whereas the abolition of internal borders between the Schengen countries stressed the need for more rigorous management of external borders, to ensure the regulation of migration of these. In this context, EU countries under particular migratory pressures have additional technical support provided by FRONTEX.
The European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX) It became operational in 2005 is at 2016 saw approved a new regulation, changing its name to European Border Guard Agency and Coastal, mantendo or acronym FRONTEX.
This agency aims to strengthen and streamline cooperation between national border authorities of the member countries to promote, coordinate and develop the concept of integrated border management in order to limit the threats and security risks, arising from transnational crime, directly or indirectly combating trafficking in human beings, illegal immigration and terrorism.
In this context, a GNR tem participado, from 2005, in joint operations in the maritime sector and land, through the deployment of human resources and technical means. In terms of human resources are present on the ground experts lofoscopia, cinotécnicas teams, experts in detection of stolen vehicles, border guards (patrolling) and operators of the National Border Surveillance System Coordination Center (EUROSUR). As regards the technical means, GNR participates with High Speed Craft (EAV) Ships and Surveillance and Intercession (HVAC), with vehicles with thermal vision cameras and patrol vehicles.
All military GNR participants in FRONTEX operations undergo an readying, theoretical and practical, coordinated by the Training Center and Forces readying for International Missions (CTAFMI) Intervention Unit (UI).
A GNR está presente, currently, five tasks under the aegis of FRONTEX, which aims to prevent, detect and stop illegal related to illegal immigration, or drug trafficking and human beings, helping to safeguard human lives at sea.
Missions with the participation of the GNR in 2017, stand-:
– A “JO Flexible Operations Activities (FOA)", which is implemented in three separate locations: external land border the southeastern Balkans; area west of the Balkans and eastern external border, more specifically in the border areas of Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary and Poland. This aims to ensure a high level of surveillance at land borders throughout the operational area, through efficient increase surveillance activities, search and patrol, in order to control irregular migration flowing into the territory of the Member States, and tackle cross-border crime;
– The "OJ EPN Minerva" stems from Algeciras and Ceuta and aims to ensure the control and flow of the significant increase in vehicle traffic and people encountered during the height of summer, cautioning the management of regular and irregular migration to and from the African continent;
– The operation "Focal Points OJ" is implemented at external land, more specifically in the border areas of Norway, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. This operation is to ensure a high level of surveillance at land borders throughout the operational area, through efficient increase surveillance activities, search and patrol, in order to control irregular migration flowing into the territory of EU Member States, and tackle cross-border crime. This year, GNR highlighted a cinotécnico binomial (detection of drugs and weapons) for Macedonia and for Montenegro, both of which detachments reached extremely positive operating results with high drug seizures;
– Operation "OJ Triton" focuses on the sea front and control is carried out in Italy, more specifically the central Mediterranean, and the Italian authorities responsible for the organization and operational coordination of the whole operation. This aims to organize operational cooperation between Member States in the control of external borders, especially the migration of North and West Africa, by planning joint patrols, means disposed with the same, in predefined areas in order to detect illegal immigration actions, through the external sea border, attempting to land on Italian territory;
– Last, the operation "Joint Operation (ALREADY) Poseidon Sea "is a front sea control operation which takes place in Greece, specifically in the areas east of the Aegean and Ionian Sea, and the Coast Guard Greek (HCG) responsible for the organization and operational coordination of the whole operation. The operation involves coordinating the operational cooperation between Member States in the control of external borders, by planning joint patrols, means disposed with the same, in predefined areas, in order to detect illegal immigration actions, through the external sea border, attempting to land on Greek territory. In any of these missions the military GNR have as tasks: monitor migration flows and combat cross-border organized crime and terrorism; participate in joint actions and / or rapid interventions, including humanitarian emergencies and rescue at sea; support search and rescue operations occurring during border surveillance operations at sea.
It should be noted that this last operation, a “Poseidon Sea”, It is one which has the most impact in relation to rescue lives, recorded due to the intense flow of migration, as illustrated by the figures for the year 2017, represented on the following page.
Note that this type of mission is essential coordination between the media present on earth, particularly during the period of the night, that through the night vision means can detect the rubber boats that make the crossing to European territory. In these cases, They are immediately activated our boats, patrolling the Aegean, which make the approach to these vessels and carry out monitoring to earth, where migrants are handed over to local authorities.
Article authorship:
Division of Strategic Planning and International Affairs in collaboration with the Division of Communication and Public Relations of the General Command of the National Guard.
