EU approves new border and coast guard
The European Union has agreed on a new border and coast guard to better manage migrant arrivals after more than a million people came to the EU in search of jobs or sanctuary last year.
Dutch Migration Minister Klaas Dijkhoff said Wednesday that with the move "we have more control over migration streams and we enlarge the safety of our citizens."
The Netherlands currently holds the EU's rotating presidency and chaperoned the border guard plan through.
The border and coast guard will be built up from the EU's border management agency Frontex.
The EU hopes it will strengthen external borders, which have proved particularly porous around Italy and Greece, and ensure that Europe's passport-free travel area functions correctly. [AP]