EU Moves to Strengthen Frontex With 30,000 Border Officers and Faster Deportations

27 Oct 2026, 12:03 by Athens Bureau · Greek City Times

The European Commission proposes a major expansion of Frontex, including a 30,000-strong border force, a rapid reaction unit and a stronger role in returning migrants who have no legal right to remain in the EU.

The European Commission has proposed a major overhaul of the European Union’s border protection system, seeking to strengthen Frontex, accelerate the return of migrants without legal permission to stay and improve the bloc’s ability to respond to migration emergencies.

Announced in Brussels on October 27, the proposals would expand Frontex’s operational capabilities, introduce a new European Border and Return Reserve and establish a rapid reaction force capable of deploying to external EU borders at short notice.

The Commission said illegal border crossings have fallen by more than half over the past two years, while the EU’s return rate has risen to more than 30 per cent.

However, it warned that a changing geopolitical and security environment continues to place pressure on Europe’s external borders, requiring a stronger and more coordinated response.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU must have the resources to protect its borders and determine who can enter the bloc.

“Europe will always stand up for the protection of its borders,” von der Leyen said.

“Europe decides who comes to our Union and under what circumstances.”

She said the proposed changes would enable Frontex to provide greater assistance to member states, including in returning people who do not have the right to remain in the EU.

Frontex to expand to 30,000 officers

A central element of the proposal is a gradual expansion of Frontex’s standing corps to 30,000 officers.

The plan includes the creation of a new European Border and Return Reserve comprising 17,000 officers who would remain available for deployment to support member states when required.

The additional reserve would complement the agency’s existing personnel and staff seconded by EU member states.

The Commission also wants to strengthen Frontex’s access to modern equipment and technology.

Under the proposed changes, the agency could acquire, lease and jointly own equipment, as well as coordinate or participate in joint procurement with member states.

This could include digital systems and artificial intelligence tools designed to improve border surveillance, information sharing and operational coordination.

The aim is to give European countries access to capabilities that individual states may struggle to develop or maintain independently.

Frontex to take a greater role in migrant returns

The proposals would significantly expand Frontex’s involvement in returning people who do not have the legal right to remain in the EU.

A new Return Coordination Centre would collect and analyse operational information, help coordinate return operations and improve cooperation between member states.

Frontex’s support would cover the entire return process, from identifying individuals and providing information about voluntary return options to coordinating removals and assisting with reintegration.

The agency would also be permitted to provide technical and operational assistance to non-EU countries carrying out returns.

Under the proposal, Frontex could help organise and conduct return operations from one non-EU country to another, provided an agreement had been concluded with the countries concerned.

The Commission said these activities would have to comply with fundamental rights and international standards.

Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, said the agency should become the bloc’s central actor on returns.

He also highlighted the need for Frontex to respond more quickly to emerging security threats and migration emergencies.

Rapid reaction force proposed for border emergencies

The Commission wants to establish a Quick Reaction Force that could be deployed to the EU’s external borders at very short notice.

The force would assist member states facing emergencies or sudden pressure on their borders.

According to the proposal, Frontex’s executive director could decide to deploy the force following a request from a member state confronting an emergency.

The Commission said the new arrangements were informed in part by lessons from this year’s crisis in Ceuta, the Spanish territory on the North African coast.

The proposal also includes a dedicated Online Monitoring and Response Centre to help identify potential threats before they escalate.

The centre would have an explicit mandate to monitor publicly accessible social media content for developments relevant to external border management.

It would also support action against illegal online content linked to border security risks.

Member states would face stronger information-sharing obligations during emergencies, including a requirement to report events with potentially significant consequences for EU borders within 24 hours through the EUROSUR information network.

The Commission said these measures would allow authorities to identify emerging threats earlier and coordinate their response more effectively.

EU proposes digital system to accelerate returns

Alongside the Frontex reforms, the Commission has proposed a separate regulation to digitalise procedures covering returns, readmission and reintegration.

The initiative follows the entry into force of the EU’s new Return Regulation on October 16.

The proposed digital system would simplify administrative procedures, improve information sharing and establish a common digital interface for managing return cases across the bloc.

The Commission said the changes would reduce administrative workloads, accelerate decision-making and improve the collection and exchange of information between national authorities.

The digital framework would also support Frontex’s expanded role in coordinating return operations.

The Commission said the system would need to comply with EU data protection requirements and fundamental rights safeguards.

EU seeks stronger border control amid security concerns

Frontex, formally known as the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, has supported EU member states and Schengen-associated countries in managing external borders since 2005.

Its responsibilities include assisting with border surveillance, combating cross-border crime, supporting returns and contributing to search and rescue operations.

The agency’s mandate was expanded under regulations introduced in 2019, amid growing concerns over migration pressures and security threats.

The Commission said the agency’s role has continued to evolve in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic and attempts to use migration as a geopolitical pressure tactic at the EU’s external borders.

Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said closer cooperation and investment in new capabilities were essential to responding to changing threats.

The Commission maintains that effective border management and an efficient return policy are essential to protecting the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel between participating European countries.

It also stressed that border protection and return operations must respect human dignity and fundamental rights.

European Parliament and Council to consider proposals

The proposals will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, which must agree on the legislation before it can become law.

The Commission said it would support negotiations to advance both the revised Frontex framework and the proposed digital return system.

If adopted, the changes would give Frontex a more prominent operational role in European border protection, crisis response and the coordination of migrant returns.

Source: European Commission, October 27, 2026.

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