The European Union is preparing another major reform of Frontex, its border and coast guard agency, with new legislation expected to be introduced in 2026. According to a European Commission spokesperson, the reform will aim to expand the agency’s staff, resources, and operational powers in response to evolving migration and border security challenges.
The initiative seeks “to reinforce Frontex, to further enhance border security and strengthen EU cooperation,” the Commission said. The new reform follows the last major overhaul in 2019, which transformed Frontex from a coordination hub into an executive body with its own armed personnel.
Hans Leijtens, executive director of Frontex, highlighted the shift: “It started with being more of an information hub, a coordination mechanism, and it was only in 2019 when [Frontex] mandate became executive.”
Headquartered in Warsaw, Frontex now supports member states by deploying personnel, equipment, and expertise to manage EU external borders and assist with enforcing EU laws like the migration and asylum pact. The agency also collaborates with non-EU countries through tailored agreements.
The upcoming reform is expected to significantly boost Frontex’s staffing and expand its role in managing returns of migrants who are denied asylum or residence. The European Commission introduced a legislative proposal on migrant returns earlier this year, and some EU countries have pushed for Frontex to take on a broader role in this area.
Frontex can currently support returns at the request of member states, providing “operational and technical support” for both voluntary and forced return procedures. “After we return people, we have a so-called post-return programme, which is meant to help people pick up their lives again. And for this, we hire actually NGOs to perform this on our behalf with European Frontex funding,” Leijtens said.
In 2022, the agency assisted with the return of nearly 25,000 individuals, 40% of whom returned voluntarily. Its involvement reportedly increased to 58% in 2023, according to NGO Statewatch.
The 2019 reform set a goal of growing Frontex to 10,000 officers by 2027, with a mix of agency staff and personnel seconded from EU member states. As of now, Frontex employs around 1,500 staff directly and operates with approximately 8,000 officers in total.
Looking ahead, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed tripling Frontex’s personnel based on the 2027 goal—potentially raising the target to 30,000 officers. However, no formal deadline has been set for reaching that figure. A Frontex spokesperson noted it is “too early to discuss any details” about the numbers or the precise structure of the reform.
