22.11.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 304/1 (Legislative acts) REGULATIONS REGULATION (EU) No 1168/2011 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 October 2011 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 establishing a European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 74 and points (b) and (d) of Article 77(2) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (2), Whereas: (1)  The development of a forward-looking and compre- hensive European migration policy, based on human rights, solidarity and responsibility, especially for those Member States facing specific and disproportionate pressures, remains a key policy objective for the Union. (2)  Union policy in the field of the external borders aims at an integrated border management ensuring a uniform and high level of control and surveillance, which is a necessary corollary to the free movement of persons () OJ C 44, 11.2.2011, p. 162. (3) Position of the European Parliament of 13 September 2011 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 10 October 2011. () ) O] O] within the Union and a fundamental component of an area of freedom, security and justice. To that end, the establishment of common rules on standards and procedures for the control and surveillance of the external borders is contemplated. The efficient implementation of the common rules on standards and procedures for the control and surveillance of the external borders calls for increased coordination of the operational cooperation between the Member States. Efficient management of the external borders through checks and surveillance contributes to combat illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings and to reduce the threats to the internal security, public policy, public health and international relations of the Member States. Border control at the external borders is in the interest not only of the Member State at whose external borders it is carried out, but also of all Member States which have abolished internal border controls. In 2004 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 of 26 October 2004 establishing a European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (%) (Frontex) (hereinafter ‘the Agency’) which became operational in May 2005. Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 was amended in 2007 by Regulation (EC) No 863/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 estab- lishing a mechanism for the creation of Rapid Border Intervention Teams (¥). L 349, 25.11.2004, p. 1. L 199, 31.7.2007, p. 30.