From November 20 to 21, 2024, General Guntis Pujāts, the Chief of the State Border Guard, participated in the 102nd meeting of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) Board, which took place in Warsaw, Poland.
The meeting emphasized the importance of the European Union's contribution to strengthening border security and management.
During the meeting, strategic decisions were made and key issues related to ensuring the implementation of FRONTEX's functions were discussed.
Representatives at the 102nd Board meeting discussed operational matters at the European Union's external borders, including priority measures, as well as the effective and high-quality implementation of FRONTEX's functions in managing illegal migration and returns.
Particular attention during the Board meeting was given to the quality of the implementation of the FRONTEX 2024 budget, the FRONTEX Multiannual Programming Document for 2025-2027, which sets out the strategic priorities of FRONTEX's activities, the draft FRONTEX 2026 Work Programme, as well as the strategic risk analysis for 2024 and 2025 forecasts.
The meeting also discussed the draft FRONTEX Board decision on a request to the budget decision-making authority to approve the general construction contract project and financing plan for a permanent headquarters building project, the anti-fraud strategy for 2025-2027, fundamental rights issues, as well as the technical and operational strategy for the European Integrated Border Management and its implementation in 2024.
In addition, on November 21, the Chief of the State Border Guard met with Division General Robert Bagan, Commander of the Polish Border Guard. During the meeting, the heads of the institutions discussed the operational situation at the external borders, the risks posed by illegal immigration, and key issues of mutual cooperation. Overall, positive progress was made on all issues, and the heads of the institutions agreed to strengthen mutual cooperation, as well as to hold an official meeting of the heads of both institutions in Latvia in 2025 and to visit the external state border.
