European Commission to expand Frontex powers, including deportation operations beyond EU borders

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, will on 27 October present in Brussels a legislative proposal to turn the Warsaw-based EU border agency Frontex into a fully-fledged “European return agency”. Two EU officials familiar with the plan, who spoke to POLITICO on condition of anonymity, said the reform would give Frontex a far bigger role in returning people who have no legal right to stay in the European Union, including new powers to carry out return operations outside the bloc's territory.

The proposal focuses on three areas: reinforcing deportations, improving the ability to anticipate and respond to border crises, and increasing operational capacity without taking border guards away from member countries.

Background

The initiative comes months after EU lawmakers approved a new “return regulation”. It aims to speed up deportations and lets member countries set up controversial deportation hubs outside the EU. In June, leaders of 19 EU countries urged the Commission to back such hubs, including with EU funding. Attention is now shifting to putting the rules into practice.

Crisis response

The Commission wants Frontex to be able to intervene in border emergencies within 24 hours. This is partly based on lessons from the Ceuta migration crisis, which exposed gaps in the EU's ability to foresee and respond to sudden pressure on its external borders. The agency would get a stronger mandate to monitor potential flashpoints, particularly on social media, and improve early warning. Personnel and equipment would be available for deployment at short notice.

Staffing

In early 2026 Frontex had around 7,800 personnel in its Standing Corps, with a target of 10,000 by 2027. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has previously called for tripling this to 30,000 European border and coast guards. The proposal is expected to seek a compromise: rather than relying only on a much larger permanent force, Brussels is considering a sizeable reserve that could be mobilised when needed. This would ease countries' concerns about losing border guards to the EU level.

The Commission is also expected to propose better equipment and more agile procedures, especially for deportations. The reform is likely to reopen debate on the agency's accountability and the human rights of migrants and asylum seekers. Frontex did not immediately respond to a request for comment.