Effective management of EU external borders is a key element for a Schengen area without internal border checks. It is needed in order to:
- facilitate legitimate border crossings
- manage migration effectively
- improve internal security in the EU by detecting and preventing threats at the external border
- safeguard the principle of free movement of persons
Management of EU external borders is a shared responsibility of all Member States, and of the EU including the relevant institutions and EU agencies. An important policy instrument for the EU to protect the EU external borders is European integrated border management.
The European Border and Coast Guard — composed of the Member States’ border and coast guard authorities and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) — is tasked to implement European integrated border management. The European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) is a framework for information exchange and cooperation between the national border authorities and Frontex — but also with third parties.
The Regulation on the European Border and Coast Guard, which entered into force in December 2019, created a standing corps, consisting of officers from Frontex as well as from Member States. This reinforced the EU’s ability to respond to different situations at the external borders and to manage returns.
On 27 October 2026, the European Commission presented a proposal to enhance Frontex’s operational capacity and develop its mandate to reflect evolving challenges in border management. This includes equipping Frontex to be agile in responding to crises, establishing it as the central EU actor in the Common European System for Returns, and increasing the standing corps.
European integrated border management is made up of 15 components with a centrally positioned border control — including measures for detection and prevention of cross-border crime and terrorism, and measures related to a referral mechanism for vulnerable persons or persons in need of international protection.
On 14 March 2023, the Commission adopted the Communication establishing the multiannual strategic policy for EIBM (EIBM Communication), which builds on the discussion that took place in the European Parliament and Council on the Commission Policy document developing a multiannual strategic policy for EIBM adopted in May 2022.
With the adoption of the EIBM Communication, the Commission established the five-year Multiannual strategic policy cycle for EIBM, for the period 2023-2027.
The EIBM Communication identifies strategic challenges that affect the EU’s external borders, and provides multiannual strategic policy goals to address these challenges. A number of EIBM principles follow from these goals and are embedded in the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation.
Furthermore, the Communication places particular emphasis on the following EIBM components:
a) border control, b) a common EU system for returns, c) cooperation with third countries, d) inter-agency cooperation, e) use of state-of-the-art technology including large-scale information systems, f) respect, protection and promotion of fundamental rights, g) a coherent and comprehensive quality control mechanism, and h) EU funding instruments. In its annexes, the Communication provides policy priorities and strategic guidelines for the EIBM components, and information on the implementation of the multiannual policy cycle on EIBM.