Border agency Frontex key to Europe’s future: Polish PM

Szydło said: "This is a very important day because here in Warsaw we are officially inaugurating the work of one of the EU’s largest agencies, an agency that is of special importance to us all, for the whole of Europe and for the future of Europe," which has been buffeted by a migration crisis.

The ceremony was also attended by Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri, and by the EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Poland signed a deal in March to hand over a site on Racławicka Street in Warsaw for Frontex to build its headquarters.

The agreement entered into force on November 1, following a ratification process in the Polish parliament, Frontex said.

The deal defines the legal status of the agency and its staff in Poland, and at the same time allows Frontex to build a new headquarters in Warsaw on land provided by the Polish government. It also foresees the establishment of an accredited “European School” for the children of agency staff, Frontex added.

Having coordinated operations at the EU’s external borders since its establishment in 2004, Frontex became the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in October 2016.

“The agency is growing rapidly following the expansion of its role and activities, with staff numbers due to double from 500 at present to 1,000 by 2020,” Frontex said on its website.

(pk/gs)

Source: PAP/frontex.europa.eu