EU Support to Strengthen Border Security in the Middle East, North Africa Region

Abstract

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is a region suffering from various crises. Wars, civil wars, collapsed state administration, lack of public security, failed law and order systems generate different international security threats such as terrorism, weapon smuggling, trafficking of human beings, illegal migration and so on. These illegal activities from the region are also pose a serious security challenge for the countries of the European Union. For this reason, the EU is making huge efforts to improve the border management capacities of the countries of MENA region that are the source of illegal migration and other cross border crimes. The EU is operating four crisis management missions and different other projects in the region, whose main aim is to develop the capacities of local law enforcement and border security services. Crisis management missions and operations, and different development projects run by the Union are the primary means of effectively tackling the security challenges from this geographical area. In these missions, police and border guards officers, other law enforcement professionals and civilian experts are playing an increasingly important role. By acting as trainers, mentors and advisers law enforcement officers and civilian experts contribute to strengthening law, order, and border security in this part of the world.