The European Parliament adopted by 511 votes to 104, with 20 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of North Macedonia.

Parliament gave its approval to the conclusion of the agreement.

The Status Agreement will allow for the deployment of European Border and Coast Guard teams in Northern Macedonia by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, using all possibilities offered by Regulation (EU) 2019/1896. The Agreement was signed on 26 September 2022 in Skopje.

The Status Agreement will not only ensure transparency and accountability of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s operational cooperation with third countries, but also in order to support the efforts of the authorities of North Macedonia and to ensure a clear framework for cooperation on the management of its external borders.

The Status Agreement should also ensure the protection of Fundamental Rights and stress the duty of team members to fully respect fundamental rights and freedoms, specifically as regards access to asylum procedures, human dignity and the prohibition of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, the right to liberty, the principle of non-refoulement and the prohibition of collective expulsions, the rights of the child and the right to respect for private and family life within the scope of the agreement.

PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia on the operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of North Macedonia.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council stipulates that in circumstances requiring the deployment of border management teams from the standing corps of the European Border and Coast Guard to a third country where the members of the teams will exercise executive powers, a status agreement is to be concluded by the Union with the third country concerned on the basis of Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

The Agreement should be approved.

CONTENT: the purpose of the proposal for a Council Decision is to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Agreement between the EU and Northern Macedonia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Northern Macedonia.

The status agreement will allow for the deployment in North Macedonia of European Border and Coast Guard teams by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, using all the possibilities offered by Regulation (EU) 2019/1896.

Ireland is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application. Denmark shall decide within a period of six months after the Council has decided on this Decision whether it will implement it in its national law.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of North Macedonia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of North Macedonia.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: one of the tasks of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency is to cooperate with third countries in relation to the areas covered by the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1896) including through the possible operational deployment of border management teams in third countries. Specifically, the Agency, as part of the European Border and Coast Guard, is to ensure European integrated border management, one component of which is cooperation with third countries in the areas covered by the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation focusing in particular on neighbouring third countries and countries of origin or transit for irregular migration. The Agency may cooperate with the authorities of third countries competent in matters covered by the Regulation to the extent required for the fulfilment of its tasks and may carry out actions related to European integrated border management on the territory of a third country subject to the agreement of that third country.

Pursuant to Article 73(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard, in circumstances requiring the deployment of border management teams from the standing corps of the European Border and Coast Guard to a third country where the members of the teams will exercise executive powers, a status agreement is to be concluded by the Union with the third country.

On 29 July 2022, the Commission received the Council authorisation to open negotiations with North Macedonia for an agreement on operational activities to be carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in North Macedonia.

The European Commission, on behalf of the European Union, and North Macedonia held negotiations on the agreement on 25 August 2022. The Commission considers that the objectives set by the Council in its negotiating directives were attained and that the agreement is acceptable for the Union.

CONTENT: therefore, the Commission proposal seeks to conclude, on behalf of the EU, the Agreement between the EU and North Macedonia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in North Macedonia . Reinforcing controls along the borders of North Macedonia will positively impact the management of the Union’s external borders as well as the borders of North Macedonia itself.

The status agreement will allow for the deployment in North Macedonia of European Border and Coast Guard teams by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, using all the possibilities offered by Regulation (EU) 2019/1896. Without such a tool, only bilateral deployments by Member States can be used to develop and implement European integrated border management and support North Macedonia in managing a significant number of migrants seeking to transit its territory. A common approach is therefore needed to better manage the borders of North Macedonia.

The conclusion of a status agreement would tie into the wider objectives and priorities for cooperation as set out in the European Union’s Stabilisation and Association Agreement with North Macedonia. It should also support the wider efforts and commitments of the European Union to further develop capabilities in order to contribute to crisis response management and promoting convergence on foreign and security matters between the Union and North Macedonia.