A/HRC/23/46 information exchange. The External Borders Fund provides for significant funding (1820 million euros over the period 2007-13) to support the efforts made by EU States to control its external borders. The Fund will be absorbed by the future Internal Security Fund. 4. EUROSUR 68. In February 2008, the European Commission presented a roadmap (COM (2008) 68 final) for establishing the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) by 2013. The Commission’s Communication focused on “enhancing border surveillance, with the main purpose of preventing unauthorised border crossings, to counter cross -border criminality and to support measures to be taken against persons who have crossed the border illegally.” 69. The Commission saw the implementation of EUROSUR as a decisive step in the further gradual establishment of a common European integrated border management system, and noted that the External Borders Fund should be the main solidarity mechanism for Member States in sharing the financial burden. In its Communication, the Commission points out the following objectives for the further development of border surveillance: reduction of the number of “illegal” immigrants who manage to enter the EU undetected; increase internal security of the EU as a whole by contributing to the prevention of cross border crime; and enhancing search and rescue capacity. In order to meet these objectives, the Commission stated that it is necessary to envisage a common technical framework to support Member States’ authorities to act efficiently at local level, coordinate at European level and cooperate with third countries in order to detect, identify, track and intercept persons attempting to enter the EU illegally outside border crossing points. 70. The Commission proposed three phases of implementation of EUROSUR: Phase 1 involved the interlinking and streamlining of existing surveillance systems and mechanisms at Member States level, including the setting up of National Coordination Centres with a communication network to exchange data between Member States and Frontex, and support to neighbouring third countries for the setting up of border surveillance infrastructure. Phase 2 involved the development and implementation of common tools and applications for border surveillance at EU level, including satellites and “unmanned aerial vehicles ” (drones), noting that extending their operation to coastal areas of third countries would require appropriate agreements with those countries. Phase 3 involved the creation of a common monitoring and information sharing environment for the EU maritime domain, thus integrating all existing sectoral systems which are reporting and monitoring traffic and activities in sea areas under the jurisdiction of the Member States and in adjacent high seas into a broader network. 71. The European Council of 23-24 June 2011 requested the further development of EUROSUR as a matter of priority in order to become operational by 2013. In December 2011, the Commission tabled a legislative proposal for EUROSUR (COM(2011) 873 final), which is currently being negotiated in order to make EUROSUR gradually operational as of 1 October 2013. Once adopted, the EUROSUR Regulation will determine inter alia the competencies and responsibilities of the national coordination centres for border surveillance and of Frontex, requiring them to exchange information via so-called situational pictures at national and European level. 72. The legislative proposal states that the aim of EUROSUR is to reinforce the control of the Schengen external borders. EUROSUR will establish a mechanism for Member States’ authorities carrying out border surveillance activities to share operational information and to cooperate with each other and with Frontex in order to reduce the loss of lives at sea and the number of irregular migrants entering the EU undetected, and to increase internal security by preventing cross-border crimes, such as trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of drugs. 35