In May 2024, Frontex published Guidelines for European Common Minimum Standards for Border Surveillance (CMS). The guidelines have identified commonalities concerning air, land, and maritime border surveillance; they address the main process phases - preparedness, prevention, and reaction - that make up border surveillance in the Member States. The Guidelines are designed to support the harmonisation of border surveillance practices within EU Member States and Schengen Associated Countries. In this way, the CMS will contribute to the development of standards and concepts for border surveillance for Member States to consider in the following areas:

• Border surveillance capabilities;
• Border surveillance capacities;
• Principles and mechanisms of national border surveillance strategies;
• Intra-service, intra-agency, and international cooperation;
• National operational models including practices regarding data management, risk analysis, crisis management, security, asset management, and patrolling.

With these guidelines, Frontex is fulfilling a mandate under Art. 10(1) lit. z) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 on the European Border and Coast Guard.