Article 9 Integrated planning

On the basis of the multiannual strategic policy cycle for European integrated border management, the European Border and Coast Guard shall establish an integrated planning process for border management and return, including operational planning, contingency planning and capability development planning processes. That integrated planning process shall be established in accordance with paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this Article.

Member States and the Agency shall adopt operational plans for border management and return. The operational plans of Member States related to border sections with high and critical impact levels shall be coordinated with neighbouring Member States and with the Agency with a view to implementing the necessary cross-border measures and providing for support by the Agency. For the activities of the Agency, operational planning processes for the following year shall be set out in an annex to the single programming document referred to in Article 102. For each specific operational activity, operational planning processes shall result in the operational plans referred to in Article 38 and Article 74(3). The operational plans or parts thereof may be classified where appropriate, in accordance with Article 92.

Member States shall each adopt a contingency plan for the management of their borders and return. In line with national integrated border management strategies, the contingency plans shall describe all the necessary measures and resources for the possible reinforcement of capabilities, including logistics and support both at national level and from the Agency.

The part of the contingency plans that requires additional support from the European Border and Coast Guard shall be jointly prepared by the Member State concerned and the Agency, in close coordination with neighbouring Member States.

Member States shall adopt national capability development plans for border management and return in line with their national integrated border management strategies. Those national capability development plans shall describe the medium- to long-term evolution of the national capabilities for border management and return.

The national capability development plans shall address the development of each component of European integrated border management, in particular the recruitment and training policy of border guards and return specialists, the acquisition and maintenance of equipment, necessary research and development activities, and the corresponding funding requirements and sources.

The contingency plans and national capability development plans referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 shall be based on scenarios that are derived from risk analysis. Those scenarios shall reflect the possible evolution of the situation at the external borders and in the area of illegal immigration and the challenges identified in the multiannual strategic policy cycle for European integrated border management. Those scenarios shall be set out in the contingency plans and national capability development plans to which they relate.

The methodology and the procedure for establishing the plans referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 shall be adopted by the management board, after consultation with the Member States, on the basis of a proposal of the executive director.

The Agency shall prepare an overview of the national capability development plans and a multiannual strategy for the acquisition of the Agency's equipment referred to in Article 63 and the multiannual planning for profiles of staff for the standing corps.

The Agency shall share that overview with the Member States and with the Commission with a view to identifying possible synergies and opportunities for cooperation in the various areas covered by the national capability development plans, including joint procurement. On the basis of the identified synergies, the Agency may invite the Member States to participate in follow-up actions for cooperation.

The management board shall meet at least once a year to discuss and approve the capability roadmap of the European Border and Coast Guard. The capability roadmap shall be proposed by the executive director on the basis of the overview of the national capability development plans, taking into account, inter alia, the results of the risk analysis and vulnerability assessments carried out in accordance with Articles 29 and 32 and the Agency's own multiannual plans. Once the capability roadmap is approved by the management board, it shall be annexed to the technical and operational strategy referred to in Article 8(5).