EU proposes tripling Frontex and expanding its deportation powers

Frontex reform: from border guarding to deportations

The European Commission has proposed a sweeping reform of the EU's border and coast guard agency Frontex that would markedly change its role: the emphasis shifts from managing external borders to deporting migrants who are in the EU illegally. According to EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, the agency will become 'the EU's central actor on returns' and will provide 'support from A to Z.' This was reported by Euronews.

Deportations beyond the EU and the 'digitisation' of returns

Responsibility for returning migrants remains with the member states, but Frontex will assist at every stage: identifying persons subject to return, operating return flights and supporting reintegration through a new Returns Coordination Centre. The key change is that the agency will be able to operate from the territory of one third country to the territory of another, that is, take part in deportations even before a migrant reaches Europe, including removals from 'return hubs' permitted by a recently adopted law outside the EU's borders. Any cooperation with a third country will require a separate agreement, which the Commission will negotiate and which will be finally approved by the EU member states and the Parliament. A separate regulation is planned to 'digitise' returns, speeding up information exchange between states; the organisation Statewatch has warned of the risks of excessive data collection. Critics call the future system opaque: 'The Commission wants to turn Frontex into a deportation agency operating far beyond Europe's borders, where abuses will be harder to expose,' said Yiftach Cohen, co-director of NGO Front-LEX. Italian socialist MEP Cecilia Strada called the plan 'shameful' and one that brings the agency closer to the American ICE.

Social media monitoring and rapid reaction forces

Frontex will be tasked with monitoring social media to detect advertising by migrant smugglers and anticipate mass arrivals. An EU spokesperson acknowledged that the proposal was partly a response to the July crisis in Ceuta, when an estimated 80,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave. To this end, an Online Monitoring and Response Centre will be created; the agency will be able to flag illegal content and initiate takedown requests, while national authorities will retain the right to decide on legality. Frontex will apply for 'trusted flagger' status, which must be approved by national bodies. Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen called the digital dimension 'one of the main enabling elements' of the reform rather than a technical add-on. Critics, including French Green MEP Mélissa Camara, warn of 'intrusive online surveillance' and threats to privacy; even far-right MEPs, who traditionally support strengthening Frontex, expressed concerns — Susanna Ceccardi of Italy's League said that fighting smugglers must not become 'a pretext for monitoring citizens' opinions.' The reform also provides for rapid reaction forces that can be sent to a country's external border in an emergency; the decision on deployment is made by Frontex's executive director, but only at the request of the state concerned. The subordination of Frontex officers to national authorities is retained.

Staffing, budget and rights protection concerns

The Commission proposes tripling the agency's staff to 30,000 employees by 2041 (from the current 10,000): its own standing corps will grow from 3,000 to 6,000, another 7,000 will be seconded from national police forces, and 17,000 will form a new 'European reserve for borders and returns', remaining in their home countries and being deployed as needed — they are funded by member states' budgets, not by Frontex. Under the current EU budget, the agency has been allocated almost €6 billion, and the Commission has proposed doubling its funding in the 2028–2034 cycle. With the new mandate, Frontex will be able to purchase, lease and jointly own equipment — from drones to AI-based tools — acting as the central procurement body together with member states; at present it depends on equipment from national forces. At the same time, the staff increase will not be accompanied by a proportional expansion of fundamental rights officers (FROs), who monitor migrants' rights: their numbers, according to an EU official, are determined 'annually, based on resources'. 'This proposal massively expands Frontex's powers of surveillance, control and deportation without introducing stronger human rights safeguards,' said Chiara Catelli of the Brussels-based NGO PICUM. The reform still needs to be approved by EU member states and the European Parliament, where, judging by positions already voiced, a heated debate is expected.