Last Chance for Brussels as EU Leaders Debate New Border Force

Brussels' latest response to the refugee crisis is to take full control of the bloc's external borders, replacing the European Union's border agency Frontex with a European Border and Coast Guard.

The idea for a centralized border control agency was announced back in September by Commission (EC) President Jean-Claude Juncker and has now been adopted by the European Commission.

Today @ 17:00 CET: We will present the European Border and Coast Guard proposal Watch live: https://t.co/c418IiksQc pic.twitter.com/3AFzkDUhtW

— EUHomeAffairs (@EUHomeAffairs) December 15, 2015​

A draft proposal seen by AFP revealed that the executive arm of the agency would have the "right to intervene" and give Brussels the power of sovereignty over member states' land and sea borders, without their consent.

"In urgent situations, the Agency must be able to step in to ensure that action is taken on the ground even when there is no request for assistance from the Member State concerned or where the Member State considers that there is no need for additional intervention," the draft proposal states.

A new border agency would also have the power to operate on territories belonging to non-EU members of the Schengen zone, such as Serbia and Macedonia.

Presenting @EU_Commission Borders Package to @Europarl_EN @ 15h (https://t.co/jnZvQc21aR) & in Press Conf @ 17h (https://t.co/03Ry1P5Otr)

— Frans Timmermans (@TimmermansEU) December 15, 2015​

Unsurprisingly, the controversial plan allowing Brussels to muscle in on any country to control external borders has been met with hostility from some member states.  

Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said the replacement of Frontex "by a structure that is independent of member states is shocking."

But the EU hopes the new 1,000 strong force will stem the flow of refugees entering Europe — a number that has so far reached almost one million people this year alone. Therefore, the EU would be able to send teams of guards in case of a surge at a particular border or if a member state has a "deficiency" in the management of its own borders.

These "deficiencies" have already led to chaotic scenes at many of the bloc's borders — chaos ensued in Macedonia after police officers filtered refugees and asylum seekers depending on their country of origin.

Many other member states have also reintroduced their own border controls and built unofficial walls and barriers. If this became permanent, the EU's founding freedom of movement principle will collapse and a united Europe would be over.

But the European Commission remains "confident" its border and coastguard plan will be adopted by EU leaders by the end of the week, preserving the principle of the Schengen zone and a united Europe

It is late December 2015 and a death dash across the #Aegean is the main way to safety for 1000s. Shame #EU shame! pic.twitter.com/51ZY9dpKZm

— MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) December 15, 2015​

Meanwhile, more refugees continue to arrive in Europe on a daily basis.