Monitoring of external EU borders is of key importance for internal security. Frontex – the European Border and Coast Guard Agency – utilizes, among others, satellite data from the Copernicus program, thus supporting member countries in better detection of illegal migration and other criminal activities at the external borders of the EU. “In just the first six months of 2024, we had close to half a thousand requests for Copernicus products from member countries, which were related to the situation at the borders,” says Marta Krywanis from Frontex. She emphasizes that the most effective border monitoring method is the integration of various technologies and combination of data obtained from different sources.
“Satellite data is an important source of information and is used in the protection of the external borders of the European Union. Satellite techniques used by the Border and Coast Guard serve for navigation, communication, and also for Earth observation. For example, Copernicus, the European Earth observation system, serves us to monitor and eventually combat illegal migration, and various criminal activities in the border area,” Marta Krywanis from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency said in an interview with the Newseria Biznes agency.
Frontex has been using data from the Copernicus program since 2015. According to the agreement with the European Commission, the Agency acts as the central contact point for the provision of the Copernicus service for border surveillance (Copernicus Border Surveillance Service). Satellite data allows for the observation of the situation at the EU external borders and provides a risk assessment. In cooperation with the Directorate-General for Defense Industry and Space, Frontex supports individual countries in better detection of illegal migration at external borders and fighting cross-border crime.
“As an agency delegated by the European Commission to provide the Copernicus service, we deliver it to member countries so that they have information about what is happening at the borders, whether there are any suspicious activities. These data also allow us to analyze the factors influencing migration, to monitor the behavior of non-responsive boats. Essentially, it is information that allows for image analysis and providing important information also in operations,” explains the expert. “We are seeing an increasing demand for satellite data. At Frontex, we have our border situation monitoring center, but in addition, member countries apply to us for products/reports. Frontex currently provides 17 different products when it comes to Copernicus imagery, and we see an increase in demand for these products year by year. This is, of course, related to the geopolitical situation, with what is currently happening at the borders. This year, in the last six months, we had over 500 such inquiries from countries.”
Frontex estimates that in 2023, when the highest level of illegal migration since 2016 was recorded, it managed to save 43,000 people at sea and return 39,000 migrants to their countries of origin through 24 operations.
“Satellite data is very useful as baseline data, but we should think about what else it can be integrated with for the image of situations at the borders to be even more accurate, delivered even faster, for the border reaction to be quicker. Here I am talking about the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, ground sensors. Only this integration of different technologies gives us information that serves during operations to ensure the protection of the external borders of the European Union,” says Marta Krywanis.
The Copernicus service for monitoring the external borders of the EU (Copernicus Border Surveillance Service) is delivered as part of the EUROSUR Fusion Services. Many services of this service are provided in cooperation with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the EU Satellite Centre (SatCen).
