European Commission - Questions and answers Questions and answers on the Commission proposal to reinforce Frontex: stronger border protection, a greater role on returns and more effective crisis response Brussels, 27 October 2026 What is the role of Frontex? Since its creation in 2005, Frontex supports EU Member States and Schengen-Associated countries in the management of the EU's external borders and the fight agai...
European Commission - Questions and answers Questions and answers on the Commission proposal to reinforce Frontex: stronger border protection, a greater role on returns and more effective crisis response Brussels, 27 October 2026 What is the role of Frontex? Since its creation in 2005, Frontex supports EU Member States and Schengen-Associated countries in the management of the EU's external borders and the fight against cross-border crime, as well as in the return of non-EU nationals with no right to stay in the EU. Frontex' Standing Corps is composed of Frontex personnel and officers seconded from EU Member States and Schengen-Associated Countries. From its headquarters in Warsaw, Frontex shares expertise with Member States, Schengen Associated Countries and neighbouring non-EU countries affected by migratory trends and cross-border crime. Through the European Border Surveillance System - EUROSUR, Frontex helps monitor the EU's external borders by collecting and sharing information from national authorities and, where needed, using its own surveillance tools, including aircraft and other technologies. Frontex also supports Member States in returning people who have no legal right to stay in the EU, from organising return flights, providing return counselling and helping with reintegration through the EU Reintegration Programme. In addition, Frontex provides support to Member States on the Entry-Exit System (EES) with operational assistance and deployment of standing corps officers. Frontex manages the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) Central Unit, which once operational, will review pre-travel applications for visa-exempt travellers. With today's proposal, the Commission aims to further strengthen Frontex both when it comes to border protection and to support Member States on returns. The Commission is also proposing today a regulation to digitalise return, readmission and reintegration procedures. Will these operational changes require additional funding for Frontex? Frontex is currently allocated almost €6 billion budget in the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework. Today's proposal brings an ambitious set of objectives to further strengthen Frontex, which require adequate financial resources. Today's proposal is in line with the Commission proposal for the Frontex budget in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 (€11.8 billion). Other elements may be covered from other sources in the EU budget, such as the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI). How will the standing corps increase? The role of Frontex needs to further evolve, also in view of a changed geopolitical and security landscape and in the face of unprecedented challenges such as migration weaponisation attempts at the EU' external border. Increasing the standing corps will be a gradual process. Frontex has currently almost 3,000 staff members who work for the Agency and by 2027 its standing corps will reach 10,000 officers. The new standing corps will consist of two new elements: (1) The Commission proposes to gradually double Frontex's own staff to 6,000. (2) A new European Border and Return Reserve will be created, which will reach 17,000 officers. Officers of this European Border and Return Reserve will remain at the disposal of Member States, working as national border guards, and can be deployed to Frontex when the need for their deployment at the external borders arises. They will receive comprehensive training by Frontex. They come in addition to 3) 7,000 officers seconded from Member States to the Agency. Both Frontex own staff and the new European Border and Return Reserve will be increased gradually over the next two MFF periods until 2041. What is the new Return Coordination Centre? The new Return Coordination Centre is one of the key elements that will make Frontex the EU's operational arm on returns. It will allow Frontex to proactively coordinate and organise returns across the EU, always in line with Member States' needs when it comes to return operations. This Centre will collect and analyse data on return and reintegration from the Member States, enabling Frontex to provide a better forecast on return needs and strategically organise its resources to support Member States. In practice, Member States will inform Frontex every year by 1 November of their indicative planning as regards return, and their needs for assistance by Frontex. This new process will maximise efficiency and support the coherent implementation of the Common European system for returns. The Centre's role will be enhanced also by the implementation of the digitalisation of return process, and use of the relevant digital tools and systems, in close cooperation with eu-LISA and the Member States. How would the proposal strengthen Frontex's cooperation with third countries in the area of return? Today, Frontex can provide technical assistance to third countries, mainly through training and capacity building on the basis of working arrangements. The proposal introduces a possibility for Frontex to also organise and carry out returns from non-EU countries to other non-EU countries. The proposal sets out specific conditions and safeguards as well as the type of activities that could be carried out, specific to the situation of the partner country. For Frontex to be able to carry out returns from non-EU countries to other non-EU countries, a specific agreement needs to be concluded at EU level. These activities need to respect fundamental rights and the principle of non-refoulement. How will Frontex ensure the respect of fundamental rights in border management? Frontex has a clearly defined system to guarantee respect for fundamental rights in the context of its operations. Respect for fundamental rights and human dignity is built into its mandate, operational planning and daily activities. All Frontex officers are trained before deployment, including on fundamental rights, the protection of vulnerable people, and the proportional use of force. The Fundamental Rights Monitors are deployed to operational areas to assess and ensure compliance with fundamental rights in border management and returns. There are also clear accountability mechanisms. Every officer has a duty to report suspected violations. Individuals can submit complaints directly through the Frontex complaints mechanism. Allegations are examined by the Frontex Fundamental Rights Office. Concerns are documented and followed up, with investigations into serious incidents. The new rules are also aligned with the legal context set by the Pact on Migration and Asylum. To monitor the respect of fundamental rights during screening and border procedures, Member States must set up independent monitoring mechanisms at the EU external borders. In today's proposal, the respect of fundamental rights is equally enshrined: Frontex will continue to support border management at the EU's external borders, and work with safeguards and oversight in place under EU law. What is the EU Reintegration Programme? Frontex already plays a key role in supporting Member States in providing reintegration support and post-arrival assistance to irregular migrants returning from the EU to their countries of origin through the EU Reintegration Programme (EURP). The programme offers initial assistance upon arrival in the country of return and support through local reintegration partners around the world, to help them reintegrate into society. Examples of assistance provided include support with starting a small income generating activity, accommodation, medical assistance, job counselling, education, legal services and other. The EURP operates in over 40 non-EU countries, with almost 58 000 people registered for support since its launch in June 2022, showing how Member States are making greater use of Frontex support for returns. The EU Reintegration Programme will be developed in line with the expanded Frontex's mandate on returns. What will digitalising the return case management mean for Frontex? The proposed Regulation on digitalising return, readmission and reintegration is a key step to further strengthen the EU's return policy. The new rules will simplify processing individual cases at national level. New EU-level systems for readmission and reintegration are created, allowing secure information exchange on identification, travel documents, return operations and post-arrival support. The new digital case management will leverage existing interoperability tools – such as the Schengen Information System and Eurodac. Member States will be able to access the information stored in the interoperable databases thus improving data sharing, make return procedures more efficient and reduce administrative burden. Frontex will lead the development of the digital architecture, while eu-LISA, in cooperation with Frontex, will provide the secure communication channel between national authorities. The recent attempts to destabilise EU external borders showed how essential it is to monitor trends that may affect external border management and migration policy. The Regulation proposes to improve situational awareness on border and pre-frontier area by stepping up monitoring of the online dimension, including with a new Online Monitoring and Response Centre . In addition, Frontex will be acting as a trusted flagger under the Digital Services Act , flagging illegal content to online platforms, and requesting national authorities to issue removal orders where appropriate. There is an explicit mandate for Frontex to monitor publicly accessible social media content, detect developments relevant for external border management, and support action against illegal online content linked to border-security risks. The new centre will also work closely with other relevant EU agencies and bodies to ensure coordinated and complementary action. What is the role of the Quick Reaction Force? When facing a situation of crisis, instrumentalisation or force majeure, Member States require fast and efficient support from EU Agencies. With the new Quick Reaction Force, Frontex will be able to provide this support instantly (for instance within 24 hours), whenever a Member State requests its deployment. Standing corps officers would permanently be ready on standby and can be deployed at short notice to respond to urgent and unforeseen operational needs at EU external borders as well as in third countries where Frontex has operations. It will be composed of standing corps officers who are equipped and trained to be rapidly deployed at short notice. Such Quick Reaction Force will be deployed upon Frontex Executive Director's decision following a Member State request for a time-limited deployment of maximum 1 month. If the situation of crisis continues for more than 1 month, a joint operation or rapid border intervention may be activated, making full use of other already existing mechanisms. For more information Press release Factsheet Regulation amending the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation Regulation on Digitalisation of case management in the area of return, readmission and reintegration QANDA/26/2261 <@rel_link@> Press contacts: Markus LAMMERT (+32 2 296 75 33) Fiorella BOIGNER (+32 2 299 37 34) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email
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