Ensuring the international border police community can respond to global crises

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The air passenger experience involves many requirements that countries must address relating to effective travel document and border management, information sharing and the identification of high-risk travellers, the screening of people and cargo for security purposes, global anti-terrorism objectives, and many other inter-related priorities. Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, promotes, coordinates and develops European border management in line with the EU fundamental rights charter and the concept of Integrated Border Management.

On October 28th, Frontex hosted the 25th International Border Police Conference in Warsaw, bringing together over 260 border and coast guard executives from around the world, as well as representatives of international organizations and EU bodies. The discussions during the event focused on building partnerships to enable swift and efficient responses to crises, responding to cross-border health threats and ensuring the protection of migrants and refugees at the borders.

EUR/NAT Regional Director, Nicolas Rallo, highlighted the role of ICAO in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, working as one team with all partners, at global and regional levels. The ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce (CART) was the driver of that collaborative effort. The work of CART was aimed at providing practical, aligned guidance to governments and industry operators in order to restart the international air transport sector and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 on a coordinated global basis.  In support of aviation’s recovery, ‘Take-Off’ guidance was developed for international aviation, keeping the health, safety, and security of the travelling public of paramount concern.

ICAO’s Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA) cross-sectorial and multi-organizational arrangement, established back in 2006, was another engine.

“We have learned many lessons throughout this crisis and we are committed to enhance the resilience of our aviation sector, for the benefit of States and people across the world. Enhancing preparedness of all actors. Inviting stakeholders to put in additional resources to strengthen CAPSCA. Making full use of innovation. Helping ensure effective, proportionate and well-coordinated responses.” Mr. Rallo said.

For more information on the Frontex event that took place in Warsaw, visit their website here.