Title: A principal-agent historical institutionalist perspective on Frontex Joint Sea Operations

Authors: Yichen Zhong

Addresses: College of Business and Social Sciences, Aston University, UK

Abstract: In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the European Union has embarked on a concerted effort to bolster its security apparatus and fortify its external border controls. The operational coordination among EU Member States at their external borders has been facilitated by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) since its establishment in 2005. Utilising historical institutionalism from a principal-agent perspective, this article investigates the development of Frontex's Joint Operations and its implications for EU border control coordination. The article contends that the initial launch of the Frontex Joint Operation approach has generated gaps in member states' control over subsequent institutional adjustments, and led to a self-reinforcing shift in EU border control coordination towards integration.

Keywords: Frontex; border management; principal-agent; historical institutionalism.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMBS.2023.138610

International Journal of Migration and Border Studies, 2023 Vol.7 No.4, pp.343 - 362

Received: 02 May 2023
Accepted: 27 Oct 2023
Published online: 15 May 2024 *

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