Adnkronos (Adnkronos) –
The European Commission proposes to strengthen Frontex by enhancing its capacity to protect external borders and transforming it into the EU's central player on returns, as well as equipping it with a rapid reaction force and additional capabilities to monitor and anticipate threats, in the wake of the crisis that erupted in Ceuta at the end of July. The European executive announced this in a press release, presenting a proposal for a new regulation on the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency. As President Ursula von der Leyen explained, the goal is to support Member States "wherever and whenever" needed, including on returns, "with the mandate and capabilities that this new reality requires."
The proposal now goes to the European Council and Parliament.
Over the past two years, irregular border crossings have more than halved and the return rate now exceeds 30%. However, common borders are being challenged by a changing geopolitical and security context, which requires a stronger and more effective European response, the Commission argues.
Consequently, the proposal foresees the strengthening of the Frontex standing corps, which will gradually increase to 30 thousand agents: to the 17 thousand agents of the new European reserve for borders and repatriations, available to the member states and deployable in case of need, will be added the doubling of the Agency's staff and the 7 thousand employees already seconded by the states.
Frontex will have a more proactive and strategic role on returns, with a dedicated coordination centre that collects and analyses operational information and supports planning and coordination.
According to the proposal, support will cover the entire process, from early identification and counseling on voluntary return to reintegration operations and assistance. The Agency will also be able to help organize and carry out returns from one third country to another, subject to prior agreement with the country concerned and in compliance with fundamental rights and international standards, the press release specifies.
The new Agency will also be able to purchase, lease, and co-own equipment, participate in joint procurement with member states, and act as a central purchasing body for digital and AI-based tools, the European executive explains. Furthermore, an online crisis monitoring and response center will be established, with the explicit mandate to monitor publicly accessible social media content. This new body will be responsible for identifying developments relevant to the management of external borders and supporting action against illegal online content linked to security risks. As the EU executive writes, the strengthening "also takes into account the lessons learned from this year's Ceuta crisis."
The proposal also includes the creation of a rapid reaction force, deployable at external borders at very short notice. The decision will be made by the Executive Director of Frontex at the request of a Member State in an emergency. Furthermore, Member States will be required to report events with a potential significant impact on EU borders to the Eurosur network within 24 hours. This measure also appears to respond to the desire for further tightening of migration advocated by European leaders and expressed in the conclusions of the last European Council, where heads of state and government also discussed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's decision to regularize 500.000 migrants.
Brussels is also proposing a second regulation to digitalize return, readmission, and reintegration procedures and implement the new rules on returns, which came into force on October 16. The text aims to simplify and accelerate case management, reduce administrative burdens, and improve data collection and sharing, with a single digital interface for the entire process. It also envisages a strengthened role for Frontex in developing a new EU digital architecture for Member States.
international/foreign
webinfo@adnkronos.com (Web Info)