Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, was established in 2005 and is an essential part of Europe’s efforts to safeguard the area of freedom, security and justice. Frontex’s support at the external borders helps guarantee free movement without internal borders checks that many of us take for granted.

Denmark contributes to Frontex with the following capacities in 2020:

• Two thermal vision vans.
• A coastal control boat contribution in cooperation with the Danish Police for the Joint Operation Poseidon in Greece.
• A Challenger airplane in support for Joint Operation Poseidon
• A Fennec-Helicopter contribution for three months in mid-2020
• A Defender-Airplane from the Danish Home Guard in 30 days from August for the Joint Operation Indalo in Spain
• Personnel covering 6.000 days of work

Denmark has on several previous occasions contributed to Frontex’ effort to monitor the EU’s outer borders. In the beginning of 2017, the Royal Danish Air Force had deployed a Challenger airplane in support of Operation Triton, the main task of which is to monitor the outer border of the EU in the Mediterranean Sea. In terms of the future deployment, the Danish Challenger airplane is expected to deploy for approx. 30 days in August 2017. Once again, the detachment will be tasked to monitor shipping traffic in the Mediterranean Sea and, as a part of this task, be expected to assist in case of any maritime Seach and Rescue Operations.