Beyond walls and fences: EU funding used for a complex and digitalised border surveillance system (5) Actions implemented with, in and in relation Monitoring Committees. The study assesses the to third countries. 1.06 % is designated to third role and composition of the monitoring committees countries’ spending. Investments are focused on formed at the national level for overseeing the capacity building projects for border guards in implementation of EU funds. In line with the CPR, third countries, deployment of immigration liaison members of the monitoring committees should officers in third countries, and secondments of include experts in fundamental rights, including border guards to third countries. civil society organisations, national human rights institutions, and potentially the Fundamental (6) Actions supporting Frontex development. Rights Agency. However, civil society organi- 2.35% of the national programmes as designated sations, in particular, face challenges such as can be directly linked to spending for the devel- underrepresentation and insufficient capacity to opment of Frontex. However, it should be noted contribute meaningfully. that that Member States also have the option to purchase equipment that can be utilized by Evaluation. The paper analyses the roles of the the agency, which would fall under the broader European Commission and EU Member States in categories of expenditure such as infrastructure, evaluating the programme. It finds that evaluations equipment, and IT systems. should be carried out by independent experts and involve relevant partners like civil society and fundamental rights bodies. According to the BMVI, Chapter 3 the Commission is also required to pay particular The third chapter explores monitoring and eval- attention to actions implemented with or in relation uation and safeguards, including rules related to to third countries. fundamental rights conditionality of EU funds. Fundamental rights conditionality. The BMVI and Monitoring and Reporting. The chapter explores CPR lay down the framework of safeguards. The the roles of the European Commission and Member BMVI Regulation requires actions funded under the States in monitoring the implementation of EU leg- instrument to comply with the rights and princi- islation and funding programmes at the national ples enshrined in the Union acquis and the Charter level. It finds that Member States’ reporting of Fundamental Rights, as well as the Union’s includes the number of people refused entry by international obligations regarding fundamental border authorities. This framing reinforces the idea rights. The CPR requires that the management that a functioning integrated border management of EU funds must also fulfil horizontal principles can be measured by the number of people that (fundamental rights, gender equality, and non-dis- are prevented entry at the border. However, there crimination) and horizontal enabling conditions are no dedicated indicators for measures aimed at related to public procurement, the UN Convention building child protection systems or first-reception on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the services for individuals with vulnerabilities. Charter of Fundamental Rights. 7