Brussels:The European Commission has proposed measures to strengthen Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, aiming to enhance its capacity for border protection and crisis response. The initiative seeks to establish Frontex as the central actor in managing returns within the European Union.
According to Wam, the EU has seen a significant decrease in illegal border crossings, which have more than halved in the past two years, while the return rate has increased to over 30%. However, the current geopolitical and security conditions necessitate a more robust and effective European response to protect common external borders.
Frontex is already instrumental in supporting EU Member States in managing external borders and maintaining the integrity of the Schengen area. The proposed rules aim to build upon this role by expanding Frontex's mandate, allowing for quicker and more effective actions. This includes the introduction of a reinforced Standing Corps, a European Border and Return Reserve, a Quick Reaction Force for crisis situations, and an Online Monitoring Centre for early threat detection. Additionally, Frontex will have a dedicated Return Coordination Centre and will assist in carrying out returns from third countries.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, emphasized the importance of border protection, stating that Europe will decide who enters the Union and under what circumstances. She highlighted the proposal to strengthen Frontex as a means to support Member States effectively, particularly in carrying out returns under the new mandate.
The Commission is also proposing a regulation to digitalize the return, readmission, and reintegration processes, aiming to simplify and expedite return management across the EU. This initiative is part of the commitments outlined in the 2024-2029 political guidelines and reiterated in President von der Leyen's State of the Union address, focusing on reinforcing Frontex and accelerating returns.