Issue: № 11, 2025
Doi: https://doi.org/10.37634/efp.2025.11.14
Introduction. The evolving architecture of the European Union’s collective security framework reflects the growing need to address both traditional and non-traditional threats, including irregular migration, cross-border crime, and regional instability. Within this system, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) has undergone a significant institutional transformation, shifting from a coordination-oriented body toward a central operational actor responsible for safeguarding the EU’s external borders. The purpose of the paper is to analyze the legal framework, institutional dynamics, and functional evolution of FRONTEX in the context of strengthening the EU’s model of collective security. Special attention is devoted to examining how the Agency’s expanded mandate enhances the EU’s capacity to respond to contemporary security challenges both within and beyond its borders. Results. The research demonstrates that the revised mandate of FRONTEX, as established by Regulation (EU) 2019/1896, has substantially reinforced the supranational dimension of EU border governance. Key developments include the creation of a Standing Corps, broadened executive and monitoring powers, and mechanisms ensuring compliance by Member States. Moreover, the Agency’s intensified external engagement through status agreements, liaison officers, and participation in CSDP missions, positions FRONTEX as an influential instrument of the EU’s external security projection. Conclusion. The findings indicate that the evolution of FRONTEX contributes significantly to the consolidation of the EU’s collective security system. By combining shared Member State responsibility, enhanced supranational coordination, and strategic cooperation with third countries, the Agency has become a crucial component of Europe’s broader security and stability framework.
Keywords : European Union, Common Foreign and Security Policy, collective security, cross-border threats, integrated border management
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