EUROSUR can help save the lives of migrants attempting to reach the shores of EU countries© Adri Rory (stock.xchng)
JRC provides technical support for a European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR)
In a new legislative proposal, the European Commission outlined the set up of a European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR), which will reinforce the control of Schengen external borders. With its expertise in maritime surveillance and open source intelligence, the JRC provided technical support for the conception, development and implementation of EUROSUR.
EUROSUR, envisaged to enter fully into service by 2013, will represent a mechanism for Member States' authorities responsible for border surveillance, such as border guards, coast guards, police, customs and navies, to share operational information and cooperate with the EU border security agency Frontex and with neighbouring third countries. The increased exchange of information and the use of modern surveillance technology introduced by EUROSUR can also be vital for saving the lives of migrants attempting to reach the shores of EU countries in small and unseaworthy boats that are very difficult to track.
The knowledge and expertise of the JRC in integrating maritime surveillance data from various sources, such as ship reporting systems (e.g. Automatic Identification System - AIS, Vessel Monitoring System - VMS), satellite imagery and sensors mounted on platforms (e.g. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - UAVs), will help achieve better awareness of the movements at the external maritime borders.
The JRC Event Extraction system, which detects and extracts information on border-security events from online news in several languages, is already included in the EUROSUR Pilot Network. This network provides for a closer co-operation between Frontex and six national co-ordination centres since November 2011.
12/12/11