The European Border and Coast Guard shall implement European integrated border management as a shared responsibility of the Agency and of the national authorities responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out maritime border surveillance operations and any other border control tasks. Member States shall retain primary responsibility for the management of their sections of the external borders.

The Agency shall provide technical and operational assistance in the implementation of measures relating to return as referred to in Article 48 of this Regulation, upon request of the Member State concerned or on its own initiative and with the agreement of the Member State concerned. Member States shall retain sole responsibility for issuing return decisions and for adopting the measures pertaining to the detention of returnees in accordance with Directive 2008/115/EC.

Member States shall ensure the management of their external borders and the enforcement of return decisions, in close cooperation with the Agency, in their own interests and in the common interest of all Member States in full compliance with Union law, including respect for fundamental rights, and in accordance with the multiannual strategic policy cycle for European integrated border management referred to in Article 8.

The Agency shall support the application of Union measures relating to the management of the external borders and the enforcement of return decisions by reinforcing, assessing and coordinating the actions of Member States and by providing technical and operational assistance in the implementation of those measures and in return matters. The Agency shall not support any measures or be involved in any activities related to controls at internal borders. The Agency shall be fully responsible and accountable for any decision it takes and for any activity for which it is solely responsible under this Regulation.

Member States may cooperate at an operational level with other Member States or third countries, where such cooperation is compatible with the tasks of the Agency. Member States shall refrain from any activity which could jeopardise the functioning of the Agency or the attainment of its objectives. Member States shall report to the Agency on that operational cooperation with other Member States or third countries at the external borders and in the field of return. The executive director shall inform the management board of such matters on a regular basis and at least once a year.