Yesterday Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, welcomed 265 recruits who begin a six-month training programme to become the first officers of the European Border and Coast Guard standing corps.
“I am proud to welcome our new colleagues at Frontex. But they are much more than new staff. They are on their way to becoming the first officers of the European Border and Coast Guard standing corps, the pioneers of the first uniformed law enforcement service of the European Union,” said Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri.
Following a brief online induction, the first recruits will begin a six-month basic training programme. Because of travel and other restrictions related to the covid pandemic, the first part of the training will take place online, followed-up by a second part in Member States Training Centres. This will ensure that the officers have the necessary skills to work together in any particular operational area, fully complying with the applicable EU law and ethical standards.
The new Frontex border and coast guard officers are expected to complete their training in December and be deployed at Europe’s external borders starting in January 2021.
Frontex received 7 500 applications from candidates interested in becoming its border guards. It is continuing the selection procedure for other candidates who may also be offered a position in the standing corps and start their six-month training later this year after completing all the stages of the recruitment process, which includes an interview, English exam and physical aptitude test.