The purpose of the study is to identify 3 models of what a European system of border guards could be composed of. In that context, develop for each model:

— if the creation of a European system of border guards is feasible from a legal and operational point of view; if necessary identify and describe the different steps that could in the longer term lead to the gradual creation of such a system,

— determine what legal provisions are necessary to create a European corps of border guards under the control and command of the Frontex Agency in order to perform border control duties at the external borders of the Union, building upon an earlier study on the 'Conferring of executive powers to border officers',

— find out the main aspects that are necessary to build a European system of border guards (tasks, powers, budget, human or other resources, etc.),

— determine the boundaries of such a system and provide information on the needs that such a system would require and provide different scenarios in this context,

— define the added value of the creation of a European system of border guards, also in terms of saving budgetary means, including a rough estimation of the necessary EU budget that such a European system would require,

— provide the necessary elements to determine the role of the Frontex Agency to operate a European system of border guards,

— analyse if changes are necessary to the Schengen Borders Code if such a European system of border guards is created, and which role such a system might have in relation to Eurosur and the Schengen evaluation mechanism.