The European Border and Coast Guard Agency, commonly known as Frontex, is an agency of the European Union headquartered in Warsaw, Poland. In coordination with the border and coast guards of member states, it exercises border control of the European Schengen Area, a task within the area of freedom, security and justice domain. Formally, the Agency's remit is to "support Member States on the ground in their efforts to protect the external borders"; it does not have authority to act otherwise unless "external border control" [by a member state] "is rendered ineffective to such an extent that it risks jeopardising the functioning of the Schengen area".
The section of Warsaw Spire which houses Frontex's seat
Hans Leijtens, executive director of Frontex, during his service as lieutenant-general of the Royal Marechaussee.
A Frontex-officer scans the EU external border.
Frontex members at the start of the agency's joint operation with North Macedonia in 2023.
Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at 1.86 million residents within a greater metropolitan area of 3.27 million residents, which makes Warsaw the 7th most-populous city in the European Union. The city area measures 517 km2 (200 sq mi) and comprises 18 districts, while the metropolitan area covers 6,100 km2 (2,355 sq mi). Warsaw is an alpha global city, a major cultural, political and economic hub, and the country's seat of government. It is also capital of the Masovian Voivodeship.
Image: Aleja Niepdleglosci Warsaw 2022 aerial (cropped)
Image: 2017 05 27 Plac Zamkowy w Warszawie 1
Image: Warszawa, ul. Nowy Świat 72 74 20170517 004
Image: Pałac na wodzie w Łazienkach Królewskich (cropped)