New EU Border Guard will be rapid reaction force

A new European Border and Coast Guard Agency, approved by a European Parliament committee this week and now in trilogue talks with the European Council and Commission, will serve as a "rapid reaction" force. The EPP Group’s Artis Pabriks, a Latvian MEP who helped steer the legislation through Parliament, says the force should be operational by autumn. It will combine Frontex agents with national authorities and double its permanent staff to 1,000, with an additional 1,500 experts who can be mobilised within three days.