The Icelandic Coast Guard has met budget cuts since 2010 by renting a coast guard vessel and aircraft to the European Border Agency FRONTEX. The units have not directly intercepted human smugglers, but they have participated in the patrolling of the Mediterranean and rescuing refugees in distress at sea. The operations have yielded a significant surplus.
Icelandic participation in FRONTEX actions in the Mediterranean
Since 2010 one of the vessels of the Icelandic Coast Guard, Týr, has participated in patrols in the Mediterranean for FRONTEX, the European Union border agency. The participation of Týr in the operations is paid for by FRONTEX, and since 2010 it has generated significant revenues for the Icelandic Coast Guard.
According to the most recent audited accounts of the Coast Guard, which have been made available to the public, the Coast Guard was paid 1.3 billion ISK (10.3 million USD/9.1 million EUR) for its participation in the FRONTEX operations in the Mediterranean. When costs have been deducted the Coast Guard made a profit of 680 million ISK (5.4 million USD/4.7 million EUR) on its operations outside Iceland.
Would cover the cost of accepting an additional 100-200 refugees
Audited accounts for 2012-2014 have not been published, but The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service estimates from available figures that the Coast Guard’s operations in the Mediterranean have generated a surplus of well over one billion ISK (8 million USD/7 million EUR).
These surplus earnings from foreign operations have allowed the Coast Guard to maintain a acceptable level of services in Iceland despite budget cuts. According to the estimates of RÚV the surplus earned by the Coast Guard from its patrolling of the Mediterranean on behalf of FRONTEX in 2010 and 11 would be enough to pay the cost of accepting 100 refugees for one year. The total earnings since 2010 would therefore cover the cost of accepting 200 refugees, or the cost of 100 refugees for two years.
The Icelandic Coast Guard has met budget cuts since 2010 by renting a coast guard vessel and aircraft to the European Border Agency FRONTEX. The units have not directly intercepted human smugglers, but they have participated in the patrolling of the Mediterranean and rescuing refugees in distress at sea. The operations have yielded a significant surplus.
Icelandic participation in FRONTEX actions in the Mediterranean
Since 2010 one of the vessels of the Icelandic Coast Guard, Týr, has participated in patrols in the Mediterranean for FRONTEX, the European Union border agency. The participation of Týr in the operations is paid for by FRONTEX, and since 2010 it has generated significant revenues for the Icelandic Coast Guard.
According to the most recent audited accounts of the Coast Guard, which have been made available to the public, the Coast Guard was paid 1.3 billion ISK (10.3 million USD/9.1 million EUR) for its participation in the FRONTEX operations in the Mediterranean. When costs have been deducted the Coast Guard made a profit of 680 million ISK (5.4 million USD/4.7 million EUR) on its operations outside Iceland.
Would cover the cost of accepting an additional 100-200 refugees
Audited accounts for 2012-2014 have not been published, but The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service estimates from available figures that the Coast Guard’s operations in the Mediterranean have generated a surplus of well over one billion ISK (8 million USD/7 million EUR).
These surplus earnings from foreign operations have allowed the Coast Guard to maintain a acceptable level of services in Iceland despite budget cuts. According to the estimates of RÚV the surplus earned by the Coast Guard from its patrolling of the Mediterranean on behalf of FRONTEX in 2010 and 11 would be enough to pay the cost of accepting 100 refugees for one year. The total earnings since 2010 would therefore cover the cost of accepting 200 refugees, or the cost of 100 refugees for two years.
