ABSTRACT
Frontex has been reformed four times throughout its history, changing its official name in 2016 when it became the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. This chapter describes the current institutional structure of Frontex in detail, outlining its internal organization and describing the tasks the Agency is entrusted with. The Agency is also key to the functioning of the European Border Surveillance System (Eurosur), an integrated framework for operational cooperation and the exchange of information launched in 2013, which is expected to 'improve situational awareness and to increase reaction capabilities' of border services. Eurosur is mandated to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, perpetually monitoring, reporting and updating the situation at the border with the main objective of producing 'situational pictures' offering guidance for border surveillance activities.
