Addressing Irregular Migration in the Mediterranean

Europe’s need for a more effective and coordinated maritime border control policy has been widely recognised. Migratory pressures on southern European borders pose an enormous to EU policymakers. National and EU law enforcement and counterterrorism agencies need cooperate more closely in order to tackle emerging threats and challenges. Frontex, the EU agency for external border security, has enjoyed some successes. However, the agency remains vulnerable because it depends on Member States’ solidarity and has a mandate which is largely driven by emergencies. The paper looks at how Frontex and the EU more generally can better coordinate its maritime border control policy, while also respecting human rights and the rule of law.