The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the report by Lena DÜPONT (EPP, DE) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Albania on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Albania.
The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.
The proposed Council Decision aims to approve the Status Agreement between the European Union and Albania on actions carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Albania as foreseen in the Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard.
The purpose of the status agreement is to cover all aspects that are necessary for carrying out the actions of the Agency in third countries.
In accordance with the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation, the Commission presented in its 2021 communication, a model status agreement containing specific provisions for conducting actions on the territory of third countries. The status agreement with Albania is based on the model that the Commission has drawn up.
The new agreement will update the previous status agreement from 2019 by also allowing the deployment of Frontex Standing Corps officers at the borders between Albania and neighbouring Western Balkan partners. The Agreement was signed on 15 September 2023 in Tirana.