CHAPTER IIFUNCTIONING OF THE EUROPEAN BORDER AND COAST GUARD

SECTION 7 Action by the Agency at the external borders

Article 44Coordinating officer

1.

The Agency shall ensure the operational implementation of all the organisational aspects of joint operations, pilot projects or rapid border interventions, including the presence of statutory staff.

2.

Without prejudice to Article 60, the executive director shall appoint one or more experts from the statutory staff to be deployed as a coordinating officer for each joint operation or rapid border intervention. The executive director shall notify the host Member State of the appointment.

3.

The coordinating officer shall act on behalf of the Agency in all aspects of the deployment of the teams. The role of the coordinating officer shall be to foster cooperation and coordination among host and participating Member States. At least one fundamental rights monitor shall assist and advise the coordinating officer. In particular, the coordinating officer shall:

(a)

act as an interface between the Agency, the host Member State and the members of the teams, providing assistance, on behalf of the Agency, on all issues relating to the conditions of the deployment to the teams;

(b)

monitor the correct implementation of the operational plan, including, in cooperation with the fundamental rights monitors, as regards the protection of fundamental rights and report to the executive director on this;

(c)

act on behalf of the Agency in all aspects of the deployment of the teams and report to the Agency on all those aspects;

(d)

report to the executive director where the instructions issued to the teams by the host Member States are not in compliance with the operational plan, in particular as regards fundamental rights and, where appropriate, suggest that the executive director consider taking a decision in accordance with Article 46.

4.

In the context of joint operations or rapid border interventions, the executive director may authorise the coordinating officer to assist in resolving any disagreement on the execution of the operational plan and deployment of the teams.