The Council and the European Parliament have reached a political agreement on the draft regulation amending the regulation concerning the European Agency for the management of operational cooperation at the external borders of the EU (Frontex). The revised rules include strengthened provisions for the protection of fundamental rights and having "European Border Guard Teams" as the common name for teams deployed during Frontex operations.

The European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders, FRONTEX, was created in 2004 with the aim to coordinate and assist member states' action in the surveillance and control of the external borders of the EU. The agency officially became operational in May 2005 and is based in Warsaw, Poland. Its financial resources have increased significantly (from €6 millions in 2005 to €86 millions in 2011) since Frontex became operational.

The coordination of joint operations at the sea, land and air external borders, the coordination of joint return operations, the establishment of common training standards for national border guards and the carrying out of risk analyses are Frontex main tasks. With the revised rules agreed during the trialogue meeting, these tasks will increase.

The main changes are the possibility for Frontex to buy or lease its own equipment or to buy such equipment in co-ownership with a member state; a mechanism for member states to second national border guards and make available equipment to the agency; the equipment put at the disposal of the agency will be registered in a centralised records of a Technical Equipment Pool (TEP); a co-leading role for the agency regarding joint operations and pilot projects; "European Border Guard Teams" as the common name for teams deployed during Frontex operations; more detailed provisions on the operational plan; strengthened provisions for the protection of fundamental rights, including the establishment of a Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights and the designation of a Fundamental Rights Officer; reinforced tasks for the agency as regards risk analysis; specific provisions on protection of personal data; reinforced tasks as regards training and research activities; a strengthened coordinating role for Frontex as regards joint return operations in full respect for fundamental rights; and the possibility for the agency to launch technical assistance projects and deploy liaison officers in third countries.

The text was negotiated in trilogue meetings between the Hungarian presidency, the European Parliament and the European Commission. It still needs formal approval in Parliament (both in the LIBE committee in July and, most likely, in September by the plenary) and in Council (after the plenary vote in Parliament).