All EU member states agree that a European border and coast guard is necessary for Europe to protect its borders from illegal migration, although there are differences of opinion regarding its implementation, Croatia's Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said in Luxembourg on Friday.

Bozinovic was attending a meeting of EU home affairs minister, and the main topic discussed was the Commission’s proposal on the European Border and Coast Guard (EBCG) Agency which would replace Frontex, the agency currently in charge of protecting EU borders.

The European Commission has proposed that by 2020 the agency increases its capacities from 1,500 to 10,000 members.

“The most important thing is that a consensus exists on Europe needing a European border control and coast guard. When it comes to the implementation of the idea, we see some differences between countries, but they aren’t such that they couldn’t be resolved, because there is an absolute awareness that Europe has to be prepared for the current and any future migrant crises that might or might not occur. It must never allow 2015 and 2016 to happen again, and everything that is being worked on now is to ensure that we are not again taken by surprise by some new migrant wave,” Bozinovic told reporters.

He added that strengthening the European Border and Coast Guard was absolutely in Croatia’s interest, as it’s the country with the longest external EU land border, but under the condition that the system does not infringe national sovereignty.

Bozinovic was also asked whether Croatia is prepared to call on European forces to guard its borders.

“That depends on the level of crisis. At the moment it is clear that Croatia is prepared to deal with migrant pressure on its own, that it has perhaps one of the strongest border police forces with highly trained and numerous personnel, who are constantly being strengthened and equipped, particularly in areas from where the greatest pressure is coming, from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Bozinovic said.

The second important issue discussed at the meeting was the reform of the readmission system.

“Croatia advocates the full implementation of the agreement on readmission with neighbouring countries, which means that anyone who illegally enters Croatia from a neighbouring country will be legally returned to that country,” said Bozinovic.

He added that the migrant issue is the most pressing topic in the European Union and that all countries in Croatia’s immediate neighbourhood which aspire to EU membership need to act with regard to European policy.

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