Division PRIORITY 1: support for the further gradual establishment of the common integrated border management system as regards the checks on persons at and the surveillance of the external borders.

This could involve investment in infrastructure, systems and equipment within the framework of the eligibility rules of the Fund. These investments should aim in particular at ensuring convergence in information management in order to facilitate decision making and information sharing between Member States and also at improving architecture and processes for further enhancing border security, including provision of forgery detection equipment.

Within this priority, the Community contribution may be increased to 75 % for projects addressing the following specific priorities:

1. (1)

   upgrading of the national communication systems to make them interoperable with other Member States;

2. (2)

   purchase and/or upgrading of operating equipment to control external borders which is interoperable with other Member States and takes into account the results of the common integrated risk analysis;

3. (3)

   purchase and/or upgrading of operating equipment in order to increase the capacity of Member States to take part in and/or contribute to operational cooperation between Member States as coordinated by the Frontex Agency.