The European Union is planning to deploy its Frontex border service in the Western Balkans, Radio Deutsche Welle has reported.

The EU is planning to significantly reinforce Frontex as part of its migration policies, the station said.  

It quoted European Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos who told a German newspaper that an agreement has been reached to deploy Frontex personnel in Serbia, Macedonia and Albania to assist in the duties of the border police in those countries.  

Deutsche Welle said that it did not get confirmation of the agreement in Belgrade but said that European Commissioner Johannes Hahn had said in July that negotiations were underway to allow Frontex to deploy its personnel in Serbia and Macedonia.  

Frontex would deploy armed personnel supported by aircraft and boats.  

Deutsche Welle said that Frontex would take over asylum procedures when called to do so by EU member states in expectation of a large number of refugees. The final decision on granting or refusing asylum would remain with the individual countries.

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