EU agencies

Frontex cooperates primarily with justice and home affairs partners on a bilateral basis but is also an active member of Justice and Home Affairs Agencies’ Network. The agency develops cooperation beyond the justice and home affairs family, in particular in the maritime domain and it also seeks partnerships with entities involved in space and aviation, health, environment protection or technology.

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) have been tasked to work together on the implementation of the European cooperation on coast guard functions. Based on a tripartite working arrangement, the three agencies support the activities of the national authorities responsible for carrying out coastguard functions.

EFCA | European Fisheries Control Agency

EMSA | European Maritime Safety Agency

The agencies exchange operational experience and may conduct joint capacity building and training related to Frontex’s use of aircraft in its surveillance activities. EASA assists Frontex in the selection of best providers and equipment, as well as in monitoring the safety of the operations of Frontex aircraft, including unmanned aircraft. The agencies concluded their working arrangement in 2022.

EASA | European Union Aviation Safety Agency

Frontex and EUAA work closely together in the implementation of the hotspots approach, supporting Member States that experience disproportionate migratory pressures. Both agencies regularly exchange information, support each other in the areas of situation monitoring and risk analysis, and cooperate in relation to training and technical assistance projects in third countries.

EUAA | European Union Agency for Asylum

Frontex and eu-LISA cooperate in the context of implementation of relevant regulations establishing large-scale IT systems, ICT-related projects and services, research and innovation activities, exchange expertise and best practices in training. Frontex and eu-LISA regularly consult each other and coordinate their programming activities. The agencies formalised their cooperation in 2014.

eu-LISA | European agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice

Cooperation with Eurojust focuses on the fight against migrant smuggling, trafficking in human beings, as well as on countering terrorism, including foreign terrorist fighters. Both agencies work together in the context of the EU Policy Cycle on serious and organised crime, exchange strategic and technical information, support each other in the area of training and exchange good practices.

Eurojust | European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation

The cooperation with Europol spreads through several areas, with frequent engagement between different Frontex and Europol business units. Both agencies contribute to each other’s publications, such as the Frontex Annual Risk Analysis and Europol’s Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment. Moreover, the agencies collaborate in the framework of the EU Policy Cycle on serious and organised crime, with Frontex being an active participant in EMPACT.

Europol | European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation

Frontex regularly supports CEPOL training activities and participates in its courses. The two agencies take part in the exchange programme and elaborate together new training curricula. The common aim is to contribute to further harmonisation of the law enforcement training and support the development of a common EU law enforcement culture.

CEPOL | European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training

Cooperation between Frontex and FRA focuses on the development of training, best practice handbooks and a professional code of conduct to promote respect of fundamental rights. FRA is a key partner for the implementation of the Frontex Fundamental Rights Strategy. FRA also contributes to the work of the Frontex Consultative Forum.

FRA | European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights