Frontex: EU Border Control in Africa Set to Expand, Commission Floats Political Oversight, Switzerland to Vote on Frontex Funding, Belgium Plans Scrutiny Hearing | European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)

The EU is considering establishing status agreements with African countries to enable Frontex (the EU border and coast guard agency) to support border management and deploy liaison officers. Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson has floated the idea of a political management board for the agency. Switzerland says it would be forced to leave Schengen in the case of a “no” vote in upcoming referendum on Frontex funding. The agency is also under scrutiny in Belgium, where a parliamentary hearing will feature NGO testimony on the role of Frontex in pushbacks.