Report: Simon Busuttil A7-0278/2011

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 establishing a European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX)

Tuesday, 13 September 2011 - Strasbourg

Explanations of vote: 

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ), in writing . − I strongly support this report as Europe can no longer look powerless in emergency situations because it is unable to muster resources or pool assets. FRONTEX must be ready to assist Member States in circumstances requiring increased technical and operational assistance at external borders, especially at external Union borders which are vulnerable or require concerted action.

Thanks to the amendments tabled by my Group on this text, the operational capacities of the Agency will be strengthened. We also obtained that rescue at sea be added to the tasks of FRONTEX. This report is also important because it clearly underlines that FRONTEX has the obligation to respect fundamental rights, respect international conventions and assure international protection, in particular the principle of non-refoulement.

[source:www.europarl.europa.eu]