Council of the European Union has concluded a new agreement with Albania for Frontex, as reported this Friday.

Agreement in question includes the organization of joint operations, which focuses on the prevention of illegal immigration. There will be Frontex border management teams in Albania.

"The Council adopted a decision on the signing of an agreement with Albania on the operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). The agreement will allow the organization of joint operations and the deployment of Frontex border management teams in Albania. The deployment of Frontex teams will be subject to the country's agreement, while the decision is made by written procedure. Thanks to the agreement, Frontex will be able to assist Albania in managing migratory flows, combating illegal immigration and dealing with cross-border crime.

Since the adoption of a new regulation of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in 2019, Frontex can help the countries with which it signed agreements throughout their territory and not only in the regions bordering the EU, as it was the case with the previous mandate. The regulation also allows Frontex staff to exercise executive powers, such as border controls and registration of persons. This agreement will replace the current agreement between Albania and Frontex, which entered into force in 2019 (and which was agreed before the entry into force of the new regulation of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency).

Frontex has border management cooperation agreements with Serbia (2020) under the previous rules and with Moldova (2022), North Macedonia and Montenegro (both 2023) under the new rules. Once the European Parliament has given its consent to the agreement, it can be finalized by the Council. The agreement enters into force on the first day of the second month after the date on which Albania and the EU have notified each other of the completion of the ratification procedures", as quoted from the decision.