Annex I to Specific Financial Decision
1
Joint Return Operation by Air to Ghana and the Ivory Coast by Switzerland
on 07-08.09.2016
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
This Joint Return Operation (JRO) is coordinated by Frontex (FX). Its purpose is to remove, from the
territory of the Member States2 (MS), third-country nationals who are subject of individual return decision
issued by the participating countries to their country of return.
Members assigned for duty during this operation will ensure full compliance with the Charter of
Fundamental Rights3
ensuring respect and dignity for all persons encountered in the course of this
operation and with the
Frontex Code of Conduct for JROs and
Frontex’s general Code of Conduct4. The
common standardized procedures compiled in the Frontex Guide for JROs5 should be considered during
this JRO.
Any incident of a sensitive or public interest nature which occurs during the course of this operation will
be immediately reported, in writing, by the member concerned, for the information of Frontex
frontex.europa.eu) and the organising Member State (OMS) (please see the email address in the
Annex 2 – Contact List).
Informing the country of return about JRO: Both OMS and each participating Member State (PMS) are
obliged to inform the relevant diplomatic representation of the country of return about the return of their
citizens expelled from the Member States’ national territories.
Flight data, itinerary - route / schedule, carrier, aircraft: See Annex 1 – Operational Overview
Numbers of returnees and JRO participants: See Annex 1– Operational Overview
Returnees NOT allowed on board: Please take notice of the information in the OMS offer of the JRO (also
underlined in Annex 1).
Update on JRO passengers: It is the responsibility and task of the PMS escort leaders (EL) to report any
changes regarding the number of returnees and JRO participants in the Annex 1 prior to the departure
from their respective home country, by sending an SMS to the OMS EL and the Frontex operational
manager – see the contact details in Annex 2.
Contact details (OMS, PMS, Frontex, handling agents): See Annex 2
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2 The term “Member State” means a Member State of the European Union or a Country associated with the implementation, application
and development of the Schengen acquis.
3 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, 2007/C303/01
4 Code of Conduct for Joint Return Operations coordinated by Frontex; Code of Conduct for all persons participating in Frontex
activities; both Codes are uploaded on Frontex website:
http://frontex.europa.eu/assets/Publications/General/Code_of_Conduct_for_Joint_Return_Operations.pdf
http://frontex.europa.eu/assets/Publications/General/Frontex_Code_of_Conduct.pdf
5 Guide for Joint Return Operations by Air coordinated by Frontex; uploaded on Frontex website:
http://frontex.europa.eu/assets/Publications/General/Guide_for_Joint_Return_Operations_by_Air_coordinated_by_Frontex.pdf
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Medical attention:
1.
Medical staff will be available in a waiting area at the OMS embarkation airport before the departure
of the joint charter as well as on board.
2.
PMS are requested to communicate any pre-existing medical conditions or requirements in timely
fashion to the OMS (see the contact details of the OMS medical doctor in Annex 2).
Travel and health documentation:
Each MS (OMS/PMS) is responsible for obtaining appropriate travel documents for its returnees.
Each MS is also responsible for documentation of its JRO participants; they all must have the required
travel and health documentation and be made aware of entry restrictions that may potentially affect
them.
Preparation of transport for returnees (at the airport):
1. Respective national escorts will search each returnee thoroughly (in accordance with the national law)
before leaving the MS of first departure and in any case before boarding.
2. National EL are in charge of the coercive measures concerning their returnees. The OMS EL has the
final responsibility on the joint flight (see Annex 1 of the details of the authorised/forbidden restraints
and equipment).
3. The use of coercive measures takes appropriate account of the individual circumstances of each
person such as their vulnerable condition (e.g. children if present in a JRO with their families, persons
with physical or mental disabilities, etc.).
4. The escort ratio on this flight is in line with a previous risk assessment carried out by the concerned MS.
5. Escorts will be designated to concrete returnees according to the instructions given by respective
national escort leaders.
6. Valuable personal belongings like laptops, jewellery, money, etc. shall NOT be placed in the baggage
hold of the aircraft. They should be stored in a sealed envelope or a plastic bag and marked with the
name of the returnee. These items will be handled only by a designated escort, who will hand them
over to the returnee prior to disembarkation.
7. Baggage, which is transported in the hold of the aircraft, shall be properly labelled with the names of
returnees, the name of the OMS or PMS, where they started from, so that it can be properly unloaded
in the country of return. No fragile plastic bags or carton boxes shall be used. PMS are advised to
monitor and confirm the transfer of luggage from the connecting transport to the main charter.
8. Maximum weight allowed per passenger is limited: see Annex 1.
Operational briefing:
The PMS EL and other relevant JRO participants will attend an operational briefing organised by the OMS EL
before the embarkation of the joint flight. The briefing point and time will be determined by the OMS EL in
due time. The OMS EL discusses the latest updates (e.g. the pax lists, seating plan, boarding and in-flight
procedures and arrival phases) and the security, including the use of coercive measures. Each PMS ELs
provides the OMS EL with the information on the current mental and physical state of the returnees. PMS ELs
should subsequently brief their escorts with this latest information.
A separate briefing will be conducted by the organizer with the cockpit and the cabin crew.
Boarding / In-flight procedures:
1. The cabin of the aircraft will be searched thoroughly for any dangerous items prior to embarkation by
a team of designated escorts.
2. Boarding will take place in a secure area. Escorts and returnees will be seated as directed by the OMS
escorts. Pregnant women (single or with families) and families with children will be enabled to board
the aircraft separately and will be seated separately from other returnees. The seating plan will be
distributed during the operational briefing before the departure.
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3. Emergency exit rows will not
be utilised for seating returnees.
4. Once on board, all passengers will take their seats and remain seated.
5. No member will leave his/her designated returnee unless relieved.
6. Any movement of a returnee from a seat will be granted according to the rules set during the
operational briefing.
7. Toilet(s) for the sole use by returnees will be designated and clearly labelled. Only one escorted
returnee at the time will be permitted the movement on board in order to access the toilet. The
escorts are advised to jam the toilet door open and observe a returnee.
8. A security back-up team will operate in the aircraft. This team will isolate and deal with any trouble
makers as well as securing the exit doors.
9. Physical force will only be used as a last resort. Restraint will be used appropriate to the level of
resistance faced. All such restraints are subject to the authority of the flight captain, who is in charge
of the aircraft in connection with all safety and security measures. Weapons are prohibited.
10. All relevant incidents have to be brought to the attention of the OMS EL.
11. On the outward flight the returnees and JRO participants will be provided with the same catering.
12. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is not allowed. This joint flight is a non-smoking flight.
Procedure at the stop-over airport (when applicable):
1. After arrival of the aircraft at the stop-over airport, the OMS EL will meet with a representative of
stopover MS.
2. An operational briefing, following the same partner as the one organised before departure, will be led
by the OMS EL with the PMS ELs embarking at the stop-over. PMS ELs should subsequently brief their
escorts with this latest information.
3. As the power is exercised by the authorities of the MS where stopover takes place, the boarding
procedure and the use of force are under the responsibility of the stopover MS, who will assist other
PMS embarking, if needed.
4. A back-up team of the OMS shall assist, as soon as the returnees enter the aircraft, in the seating.
5. Other participants shall remain on board of the main aircraft, the Back-Up Team guarding the doors.
Procedure at the destination airport:
1. When the aircraft comes to a stop and a complete standstill at the final parking position any restraint
will be removed from the returnees and they will be brought to the door of the aircraft. At this time
they will be handed their personal belongings, which were transported in the cabin.
2. The OMS EL will make the first contact with the representative of the country of return in order to
prepare the hand-over.
3. The OMS EL and the EL of each PMS will meet relevant representatives of the country of return and
hand over the travel documents and other relevant documentation, while presenting the returnees.
4. Baggage in the hold will be unloaded.
5. The OMS EL will inform PMS EL about the necessity to disembark the aircraft or not, would it be for a
planned overnight stay or for administrative or technical reasons.
Operational debriefing
A debriefing will be organised during the return flight from the country of return with all the relevant JRO
participants, in particular the escort leaders, the back-up team leader, the monitor and the Frontex
representative. All PMS EL and OMS EL will be respectfully asked to complete a “JRO Debriefing Form”,
distributed by the Frontex representative on board, and return it before the debriefing. The feedback
provided in the forms will be utilized during the debriefing.
After-operation phase:
OMS as a leading country will provide Frontex with the Final Return Operation Report in a standard form.
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The OMS and all PMS escort leaders are responsible to inform each JRO participant of his/her
contingent about the content of the Implementation Plan as well as the annexes and to ensure that
they comply with the plan.
For Frontex
Done in Warsaw, 05/09/2016
Annexes:
Annex 1 – Operational Overview
Annex 2 - Contact List
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