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And Ben Habib has said the agency’s rapidly increasing budget, and requirement of staff to wear EU-branded uniforms, should sound alarm bells throughout the continent and the rest of the world about the possibility of a “European superstate”. Mr Habib was commenting after a report published by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) suggested Frontex, which was launched in 2004, is currently failing to manage the bloc’s external borders effectively and has “bitten off more than it can chew”.
The report, written by former Maltese government minister Leo Brincat, also voiced doubts about Frontex’s ability to adhere to the new operational role assigned to it in two years ago.
Mr Habib told Express.co.uk: “It’s really as bad as it can get.
“NATO is an agglomeration of individual national armies serving under perhaps a common command structure with each country and its soldiers wearing their national badge.
“Frontex officers do not wear their national badge, they wear the European Union badge.
“NATO is an alliance – whereas this IS the European army.”
With respect to the ECA report, Mr Habib said: “Germany has the biggest military budget on the continent but nevertheless has an armed force which is poorly resourced and poorly managed with much of its armoury out of order.
“So it is no surprise that Frontex seems also to be failing. In that regard all of us in the United Kingdom and Europe alike should be delighted but it is too soon to cheer.”
READ MORE: EU’s border force has ‘bitten off more than it can chew’, warns court
He said: “Spending by the EU on military research and Frontex has multiplied three-fold since its last multi-annual financial framework, from around €12 billion to an eye watering €33 billion. This budget is only going to go on growing.
“And even though Frontex may not yet be fit for purpose, it will get there.
“En route to doing so, its budgetary requirements will divert funds away from national commitments and NATO.”
Mr Habib warned: “Together the result of these two effects will be a move away from foreign policy based on the Anglo-sphere and one which puts the EU’s interests front and centre.
“The EU has imperial aims. Frontex is a necessary step towards fulfilling those aims.
“We are lucky that it is currently failing but the direction of travel bodes very badly for Europe and the World.”
France’s President Emmanuel Macron is among European leaders who have backed the idea of a European army.
Speaking at a news conference today to address the conclusions of his report, Mr Brincat said: ““This is even more worrying at a time when Frontex is being given added responsibilities.
“I think the main issue was that Frontex was biting off more than it could chew in a sense.
“They went through many changes too fast and now they are paying the price for this.”
He added: “It increased its mandate without analysing its operations and performance.
“The net losers were not the stakeholders but Frontex itself.
“Frontex should ensure that all weaknesses are addressed as soon as possible.”
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