EU/Serbia Agreement: operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Serbia

PURPOSE: to approve the Status Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia regarding the actions carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency on the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2025/479 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia.

CONTENT: the Council Decision aims to approve the Status Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia as regards actions carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, as provided for in Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard.

Pursuant to Article 73(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council, in circumstances requiring the deployment of border management teams from the standing corps of the European Border and Coast Guard to a third country where the members of the teams will exercise executive powers, a status agreement is to be concluded by the Union with the third country concerned.

One of the tasks of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency is to cooperate with third countries in areas covered by the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation, "including through the possible operational deployment of border management teams in third countries".

The provisions of the agreement cover all aspects that are necessary for carrying out the actions of border management teams from the standing corps deployed to a third country where the members of the teams will exercise executive powers, in particular, the scope of the operation, provisions on civil and criminal liability, the tasks and powers of the members of the teams, measures related to the establishment of an antenna office and practical measures related to the respect of fundamental rights.

Ireland is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application. Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application. It will decide, within six months after the Council has acted on this Decision, whether to implement it into its national law.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 18.2.2025.