The European Parliament has voted in favour of a new law that renews the mandate for Frontex, the EU's border control agency and allocated more resources to it.
The vote was carried with 431 votes in favour, 49 votes against and 48 votes abstentions.
The law, for the first time, establishes European Border Control Teams.
Under the terms of the new law, Frontex may now acquire its own assets to monitor the EU's borders.
The law is based on a report by Maltese MEP Simon Busuttil who achieved agreement on it between the Parliament and the Council of Ministers.
Welcoming the vote, Dr Busuttil said the result is the climax of more than a year's work, striving to reach an agreement on the complex and controversial subject of strengthening the Union's external border agency.
"We have done our part", said Dr Busuttil. "Now it is up to the agency to make the best of its mandate and its increased resources."