The Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Vakhtang Gomelauri and the Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), Fabrice Leggeri signed a renewed working arrangement on operational cooperation.

This arrangement substituted the document signed in 2008 and prescribed new directions of partnership.

Main directions of cooperation between the agencies are border management, irregular migration and fight against cross-border crime. This cooperation is realized through the exchange of information and analytical products, as well as through participation in joint operations with the law enforcement agencies of EU member states. Besides, the important elements of cooperation with Frontex are the re-training of law enforcement officers and the implementation of technical assistance projects.

“I am glad that the working arrangement signed today will serve as a firm legal basis for our future successful cooperation, the positive result of which goes beyond the existing relations of the two agencies and represents an important phase in Georgia-EU cooperation” – mentioned Vakhtang Gomelauri.

In his turn, the Executive Director of Frontex underlined the importance of cooperation with Georgia, being a key partner to the European Union. “It was in 2008 – more than a decade ago - that the first Working Arrangement between Frontex and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia was signed. I am confident that the new framework for cooperation will allow us to achieve further progress towards securing borders and addressing common challenges, which call for a coordinated response” – he said.

First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Kakhaber Sabanadze, the Director-General of the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) of the European Commission, Monique Pariat, the Acting Director-General of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) of the European Commission, Maciej Popowski and the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Carl Hartzell participated in the video-conference.