The European Union is preparing to expand the mandate of its border agency, Frontex, to potentially allow the agency to enforce the removal of individuals from one non-EU country to another. According to Olivier Onidi, deputy-director general of the EU Commission’s Department for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME), this move is intended to support the bloc’s new strategy of establishing “return hubs” in third-party nations.
Expanding Frontex Powers Beyond EU Borders
Current plans suggest that Frontex could soon play a direct role in managing removals between countries outside the European Union. While the details remain under development, Onidi confirmed that the proposal—expected by the end of September—aims to facilitate coordinated removals for failed asylum seekers who cannot be returned to their countries of origin.
Onidi clarified that these operations would rely on a “fully-fledged international agreement” involving EU member states and the European Parliament. He emphasized that the agency would not receive a “free mandate” to conduct these operations unilaterally. Instead, he noted, there will be specific safeguards to ensure compliance with existing standards for return procedures.
Frontex is currently undergoing a massive scaling effort. The agency aims to increase its workforce to 10,000 border guards by 2027, with a long-term goal of reaching 30,000 personnel to manage increasingly complex migration challenges.
Decentralization and Regional Command Centers
Beyond its external operations, Frontex is shifting its internal governance structure. Following a 2024 European Commission review, the agency is moving toward a more decentralized model. Management functions previously concentrated in Warsaw, Poland, are being devolved to regional command centers across the continent.
These new regional hubs are being established in several countries, including Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Latvia, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. A facility for the Iberian peninsula has also recently opened in Portugal. According to the agency, this shift is designed to equip Frontex as the primary operational arm for maintaining security at the EU’s external borders.
Data Sharing and Operational Transparency
The upcoming mandate overhaul also prioritizes increased data-sharing between Frontex, EU member states, and other European agencies. This represents a significant pivot for the agency, which has seen its annual budget exceed 1 billion euros for the first time in its 21-year history.
A Frontex spokesperson indicated that the agency is awaiting the conclusion of the legislative process before commenting on specific operational details. “Frontex doesn’t get ahead of decisions that are theirs to make,” the spokesperson stated. The agency maintains that since no single EU country can manage its external borders in isolation, the expanded capacity is a necessary response to shared challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Frontex have the power to deport people from any non-EU country?
The proposed mandate would allow Frontex to assist in coordinated removals between non-EU countries, provided there is a formal international agreement in place and full backing from the European Parliament and EU states.
What are the new “return hubs”?
Approved last month by Brussels, these hubs are locations in third-party countries where failed asylum seekers can be sent if they cannot be returned to their home nations due to a lack of existing return agreements.
How is Frontex changing its structure?
The agency is decentralizing its operations by moving management responsibilities from its Warsaw headquarters to regional command centers located in various EU member states.
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