The Netherlands has agreed to extend its involvement in monitoring the EU’s external borders and saving boat refugees, junior justice minister Klaas Dijkhoff has confirmed.

From October, a Dutch coastguard plane will again be in use above the Mediterranean Sea and a fast patrol boat will be in the water from July to October, Dijkhoff told parliament in a briefing.

In addition, the Netherlands is lending buses, dogs, border guards and other experts to the operation. This makes the Netherlands one of the biggest contributors to the Frontex effort, Dijkhoff said.

‘The Netherlands is well aware of the importance of the Frontex operation in securing the Schengen zone borders and combating people smuggling,’ Dijkhoff said. ‘European cooperation in this is essential.’

The Dutch parliament had been due to discuss the Brussel’s plans to relocate thousands of boat refugees to other countries on Thursday night but the debate was delayed.