Frontex cooperation with non-EU countries April 2015-April 2017
Country
State of play of cooperation
Involvement April 2015 - April 2017
Ethiopia
Limited cooperation. No attendance in AFIC (Africa-
2010. Participated in the AFIC launch.
Frontex Intelligence Community) meetings 2015-2017
2016. Request from Italy to host Ethiopian officers (liaisson) in Sicily under JO Triton to cooperate
despite invitations.
in identification process.
2016. Meeting with Ethiopian MFA – Addis Ababa - representative of Frontex Return Support Unit.
2015 May-April 2017 - Frontex is a partner in the EU-funded programme EURLO (European Return
Liaison Officer) and as of Q4/2016 the co-chair of the EURLO Steering Group Committee meetings;
one of the EURLOs is also functioning in Ethiopia;
2015 April-2017 April. Frontex is a partner in the EU-funded programme EURINT (European
Integrated Return Management Initiative); as of 2016 participation in and co-chairing of
operational Country Working Group on Ethiopia;
2016 December 05 and 2017 January 17 - teleconferences of the CWG members;
2017 February 24 meeting of the CWG members; 2017 March 27 and April 19 - CWG
teleconferences;
Egypt
Preliminary discussions are underway on possible
2012. AFIC Lisbon November.
relaunching negotiations on a working arrangement.
2015. Egyptian staff (2 persons incl 1 from the navy) in the ICC Rome 16 April 2015 until 2015 May
2015 in the framework of JO EPN Triton.
2015. Possibility to renew the deployment of two Egyptian experts in the frameworks of Frontex
coordinated JO Triton (letter sent to Italian border authorities in June 2015).
2015. AFIC Workshop – 7/8/9 September 2015 - Egypt was only present in the session dedicated
to the Khartoum process that took place in the first day, and represented by the Consul of the
Egypt Embassy in Warsaw.
2015. 2nd Ministerial conference on security and religious affairs of 5G Sahel countries in Niger
(11/14 May 2015) – Egypt participated (representative of Ministry of Interior).
2016. AFIC workshop September in Warsaw. Egypt present during the first day through its
Embassy to Poland.
2016. Invitation to the EPN general meeting. May (Through Embassy).
2016, 25-27 October. Exploratory mission to Egypt - Director of Frontex Capacity Building Division,
representatives of International and European Cooperation Unit (IEC) and Risk Analysis Unit (RAU).
2016. 1 return operation coordinated by Frontex.
2017 March. Visit of Egyptian delegation to Frontex.
2017. 1 return operation coordinated by Frontex.
Apr 2015-Apr 2017 Frontex is a partner in the EU-funded programme EURINT; as of 2016
participation in and co-chairing of all operational Country Working Groups (CWG), currently the
CWG on Egypt is being established; 2017 April 27 - pre-coordination teleconference.
Eritrea
No cooperation apart from the AFIC participation.
2016. AFIC workshop September Warsaw.
2017. AFIC workshop March Niamey.
Libya
Ongoing participation in the AFIC activities as of 2010
2014. Libyan delegation as well as EUBAM Libya were present during the EPN General Meeting
(except for during the time of the coup).
organized on 05 June 2014 in Lisbon (Portugal). Furthermore on 09 December a tailored meeting
between Frontex, Libyan Coast Guard and EUBAM Libya is planned as well as their participation at
Cooperation via CSDP missions with border
EPN Meeting on 10 December 2014.
management components, including operational and
capacity building aspects.
2016. 24-25 June Invitation of EUBAM Libya and the Libyan Coast Guard for the next EPN
(European Patrols Network) meeting that is due to take place in Norway.
Frontex Situation Centre provided the Libyan Coast
2016. AFIC workshop September in Warsaw.
Guard with limited access to Frontex Fusion Servicesand 2016. 24-25 June EPN General Meeting invitation to Head of the Naval Coast Guard, Bergen,
dedicated training on their use through EUBAM Libya
Norway.
and EUNAVFOR MED Sophia.
2016. Participation in the EPN General meeting in June.
A tailored Geographic Information System platform,
2016. 24 October Coordination meeting on EU Cooperation with the Libyan Coast Guard.
was designed and delivered to EUBAM Libya along with
the necessary training to support their situation
2016. 08-10 November Participation in the event launching the European Cooperation on Coast
monitoring activities of Libyan border areas. Also,
Guard Functions – European Coast Guard Cooperation Network Meeting Warsaw.
Frontex supported EUBAM Libya activities with tailored
situation monitoring products, incl. updates on vessels 2016 December. Training of Libyan Coast Guard aboard an Italian vessel. Frontex is training the
of suspected illegal activities tracked by Frontex).
Libyan officers on law enforcement at sea. Frontex has contributed to the training package one
under EUNAVFOR MED Sophia mandate with a “Law Enforcement” module for 59 Libyans and
three tutors.
Mali
Very limited cooperation.
Participation in the AFIC activities (workshops, conferences) since 2010 except for 2012 during the
coup.
2016 Q3-Q4. Support of FRA, NLD, ESP, MLT in the organisation and realisation of the joint
identification mission from Mali, which took place on 01-14/12/2016.
2016 September. Participation of EUCAP Sahel/Mali in AFIC meeting in Warsaw.
2017. Introduction to CCC, SQF and other relevant training planned for two colleagues from
EUCAP Sahel/Mali.
2016 - 1 return operation coordinated by Frontex.
Mauritania
Very limited cooperation. MB mandate to negotiate a
Participation in the AFIC activities (workshops, conferences) since 2010.
working arrangement (23/11/2006).
2016, June. AFIC Workshop organised in Mauritania.
Morocco
Negotiations with Morocco on the working
Participation in the AFIC activities (workshops, conferences) since 2012.
arrangement are underway - the signature depends on 2014/2015 Joint EASO-Frontex Technical Assistance project (under ENPI Programme) to familiarize
further developments on the political level. In a January Moroccan and Tunisian authorities with the work of the Agencies.
2016 communication from the Commission (DG HOME)
it was indicated that all planned bilateral initiatives with 2015. 16 November 2015 – 27 November 2015 Training on advanced skills for detection of
Morocco in HOME areas will have to be postponed until falsified documents, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
further notice.
2015. 18-19 June, Morocco - invitation to Next Local Schengen Group and JHA meetings.
2015. 26-29 May Workshop in Morocco in the framework of FX-IBM project
2015. April Frontex participated in the first evaluation meeting of the implementation of the EU-
MOR MP.
2015. February High level visit of MOR officials to Frontex. Delegation composed by Gendarmerie,
DGSN, Customs, MoI, and MFA.
2016. 08-10 November Participation in the event launching the European Cooperation on Coast
Guard Functions – European Coast Guard Cooperation Network Meeting Warsaw.
2016. JO EPN Indalo (based on the bilateral cooperation between ES and MOR)
2016, June. Participation in the EPN meeting.
2016. March 2-3. Invitation to AFIC in Accra. Not attended due to political situation.
May 2015 - April 2017 - Frontex is a partner in the EU-funded programme EURLO and as of
Q4/2016 the co-chair of the EURLO SGC meetings; one of the EURLOs is also deployed in Morocco;
Apr 2015-Apr 2017 Frontex is a partner in the EU-funded programme Eurint; as of 2016
participation in and co-chairing of operational Country Working Group on Morocco;
2016 September 29 and November 29 - CWG members teleconferences; 2017 January 25 EURINT
– CWG members MOROCCO Teleconference
Niger
Negotiations of a working arrangement are underway.
Participation in the AFIC (workshops, conferences) since 2010.
2016 3-6 October - RAU and IEC participated in an EU inter-service mission on migration to Niger
Frontex Liaison Officer to be posted to Niamey in June
organised by COM.
2017.
2017 1 February. IEC visited the EU Delegation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Niamey to
prepare Executive Director's visit to Niamey on 27 February - 2 March.
Frontex also cooperates with EUCAP Sahel Niger.
2017 27 February - 2 March. Frontex Executive Director visits Niamey for a series of meetings with
local authorities and EU organisations. Frontex ED opens AFIC workshop.
2017 1-2 March. AFIC workshop in Niamey.
Nigeria
Working arrangement in place (attached).
Participation in the AFIC activities (workshops, conferences) since 2010.
2015 June Dakar workshop (focused on the issues of cross-border crime and the threat posed by
Boko Haram).
2015 April-December. 11 return operations to Nigeria.
2015 Training on Advanced skills for detection of falsified documents, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands, 16th November 2015 – 27th November 2015 - 2 participants.
2015 invited to JO FP 2015 Air (June 2015) for deployment - Intermediate Managers.
2016 7-9 March. Frontex (RSU) participated in a EU mission to Nigeria on return and readmission.
Meeting with natioal authorities including the NIS.
2016 Operational Heads of Airports Conference 8-10 March, Malaga. Participation.
2016. Invitation to JO EPN Triton 2016.
2016. 20-27 November Identification mission from Nigeria to Finland, Denmark and Norway.
Nigeria
Working arrangement in place (attached).
2016. Request for training received by email from the Emergeny Management Agency for
helicopter patrols in support of the Border Guards. It was invited to channel the request to the NIS
NFPOC.
2016 January. Exchange of letters with AM Giwa on the calendar of activities for 2016.
2016. 14 return operations coordinated by Frontex to Nigeria.
2016 September 7-8. Evaluation meeting reg. ‘Best Practices for the organization of Joint Return
Operations to Nigeria’ with the participation of delegates from Nigeria (NIS, Nigerian MFA), COM
DG-HOME, EURINT and several Member States.
2016 October - Novembe. Support of FIN, DNK, NOR in the organisation and realization of the joint
identification mission from Nigeria, which took place on 20-26/11/2016;
2016 October 01 - April 2017 - support of ITA in hosting the long-term deployment of NGA
experts, who support the ITA national identification process;
2017 January-April. 7 return operations coordinated by Frontex to Nigeria.
2017 Invitation letter to participate to the Joint Operation Focal Points Air Intermediate
Managers.
2017 Participation of NIS at the Operational Heads of Airport Conference 7-9 March - Portugal.
2017 Invitation by Air Border Sector to Operational Heads of Airports Conference.
2017 Invitation to Operational Heads of Airports Conference by Frontex Air Border Sector.
Apr 2015-Apr 2017 Frontex is a partner in the EU-funded programme Eurint; as of 2016
participation in and co-chairing of operational Country Working Group on Nigeria; 2016 March 02 -
CWG members teleconference; 2016 May 24 - CWG members meeting.
Senegal
Negotiations of a working arrangement are underway.
Participation in the AFIC (workshops, conferences) since 2010.
2015. 10/11 June. AFIC workshop in Dakar.
2016. 14-16 March. Frontex mission to Dakar (RSU and IEC) with EU delegation on readmision. In
the margins negotiation of the draft WA. (version sent by EU Del in Dec 2015).
2016. 22 November EU-ACP Dialogue on Migration and Development Seminar on THB and
Smuggling.
2016. JO EPN Hera (based on the bilateral cooperation between ES and MOR).
2016. 31 October – 11 November Invitation to training on advanced skills for the detection of
falsified documents for non-EU countries.
Return Support Unit, in cooperation with EURINT, was working on an identification mission (IM)
coming from Senegal, Frontex first received informally via the EU delegation the names of the
members of the Senegalese IM, but unfortunately Fx never received a formal confirmation. In this
connection on 2016 September 29 - Frontex Return Support Unit, together with EURINT,
participated in the preparatory meeting with the Senegalese authorities.
Somalia
Very limited cooperation.
Apr 2015-Apr 2017 Frontex is a partner in the EU-funded programme Eurint; as of 2016
participation in and co-chairing of operational Country Working Group on Somalia; 2016 February
02 - CWG members teleconference; 2016 November 30 - CWG members meeting.
2016. 1 return operation coordinated by Frontex.
Sudan
Very limited cooperation.
2015. AFIC Warsaw September.
2016. 22 November EU-ACP Dialogue on Migration and Development Seminar on THB and
Smuggling.
2016. October Visit to Frontex by Sudanese delegation.
2017 March. Participation in the AFIC workshop in Niamey.
2016. 2 return operations coordinated by Frontex to Sudan.
Tunisia
Management Board's mandate to negotiate a working 2012. AFIC Lisbon November.
arrangement (since 2011), no substantial developments 2016. 28 return operations coordinated by Frontex.
since then despite attempts.
2016. 15-17 November Participation in workshop on Strengthening Co-operation between the
OSCE Partners for Co-operation (PfC) and participating States (pS) in the area of border security
and management.
2017. 19-20 January - Frontex partitipation in DG Home's political dialogue on security and
counter-terrorism.
2017. 11 return operations coordinated by Frontex.