ANNUAL POLICY REPORT 2012 national action plan, which aims, inter alia, at improved coordination on border management, better use of personnel and equipment, infrastructure improvements, new training programs and review of the legislation. To assess the progress achieved and to identify areas in which other Member States could provide assistance, a panel of European experts (peer-to-peer) visited the country from 28 May to 2 June 2012. The mission visited Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos", the port of Piraeus and the Evros region, covering by these visits all types of borders. By the end of the visit it was highlighted that despite the obvious improvements achieved, further encouragement and progress is required. The Commission called Greece to continue the implementation of the Schengen Action Plan and it reiterated its commitment to support Greek efforts for the management of external borders, including through the External Borders Fund and the assistance of Frontex98. 3.7.3 Border Surveillance Due to its geographical position, Greece is either the most easily accessed initial destination or a gateway to the European Union, with another State as a final destination. The first report of the Commission on the proper functioning of the Schengen Treaty, which was published in May 2012, and referred to the period October - December 2011, stated that 75% of illegal immigrants who were arrested in the Schengen area entered via the road of the Eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus)99. Moreover, according to Frontex, in the year 2012, the illegal crossings into the Schengen area, through this route, amounted to 37220100. The Eurosur Regulation which is under examination provides for the creation of a European coordination center (within Frontex facilities), and the operation of a national focal point in each Member State. By the Law 4058/2012 the National Coordinating Centre for Border Control & Surveillance was established in Greece101. This center is an independent service that reports directly to the Minister of Public Order & Citizen Protection charged with coordinating the actions of the competent Greek authorities at the external borders, cooperating ith institutions of the European Union, the competent authorities of third countries and international organizations responsible for border management, as well as overall supervision of the application of EU and national measures concerning the management of the external borders of the country. This center will be located at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Piraeus, while the Commodore of the Greek coastguard has already been appointed as National Coordinator and the relevant presidential decree on issues of staffing is under public consultation. The center should start operating by 01.10.2013, according to the draft regulation of EUROSUR considered at the EU Council. In late 98 Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council, Second semi-annual report on the functioning of the Schengen area for the period from 1 May 2012 until 31 October 2012, COM (2012 686 final, 23.11.2012. 99 COM (2012) 230 final, p.3 100 http://www.frontex.europa.eu/trends-and-routes/migratory-routes-map 101 Security services by uniformed guards on merchant ships and other devices, GG 63 sq. A/22.3.2012. 39