The European Commission, under the transition facility programme, provided EUR50,000 to assist the Armed Forces of Malta increase its capabilities in the effective border control at the external borders of the EU, in line with the parameters stipulated in the Schengen Convention, the Department of Information said.

The purpose of the programme was to ensure that the border management authorities have the required technical, operational and administrative capacity to implement all EU standards in the field of border control, including intelligence gathering area and SIS II. The programme was managed by the Police Department under the auspices of the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry.

The procurement of a ground power unit together with the ballistic vests will help the AFM to provide an adequate level of maritime border surveillance in most weather conditions by day or night.

As a result the AFM are able to react more quickly and efficiently to border control scenarios in order to ensure the best use of limited assets.