EU Commission proposes expanding Frontex powers, including deportations between non-EU countries

The European Commission on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, proposed expanding the powers and staff of the EU border agency Frontex.

The plan would allow Frontex to support or carry out returns of migrants from one non-EU country to another. One example given in reports is the deportation of a Bangladeshi national from Libya. The proposal would also give Frontex more scope to act outside EU territory.

Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner presented the proposal. Reuters reported that Commissioner Henna Virkunnen also announced it. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe what she said.

What the proposal includes

According to the Commission's statement, as reported by DW and Daily Sabah, Frontex's standing corps would gradually grow to 30,000 officers. This would happen through a new "European border and return reserve" of 17,000 officers. DW says this would take place within the next 15 years. Daily Sabah gives 2041. Reserve officers would remain at the disposal of member states.

DW and Daily Sabah also report that the proposal would:

• create an EU Return Coordination Centre within Frontex;
• expand the agency's role across the entire deportation process;
• set up an online centre to monitor border-related developments on social media;
• narrow the scope of Frontex's internal fundamental rights watchdog, with complaints referred to national authorities.

According to Daily Sabah, deportations between non-EU countries would depend on agreements with the countries involved and on international legal standards. Daily Sabah also reports that the Commission proposed €11.8 billion for Frontex in the 2028–2034 EU budget, nearly double the almost €6 billion for 2021–2027.

Background

The proposal follows large-scale arrivals in Spain's North African exclave of Ceuta in summer 2026. Daily Sabah reports that more than 72,000 people arrived from Morocco in late July, and most later left. It also reports that irregular arrivals to the EU have fallen overall. According to DW, Italy introduced some temporary border controls on travel from Spain afterwards. DW also reports that Spain's prime minister at the time called several member states' response "selfish".

What each side says

Brunner told reporters: "Today we propose that Frontex becomes the central EU actor on returns." He said the agency would "be able to act faster, with a quick reaction force that can deploy within 24 hours and spot risks early, before an event becomes a crisis", according to Daily Sabah.

Several member states, not named in the reports, have said too many people ordered to leave remain in the EU. Some cited Ceuta as a reason for stronger tools.

Dutch MEP Tineke Strik (Greens/EFA) said, according to DW: "The Commission is pandering to populism and the far right on migration." She added that the Commission "risks turning Frontex into a European version of ICE". Rights groups and some lawmakers raised accountability concerns. DW notes Frontex has faced past criticism over accountability.

The reports do not describe the legislative timeline, which non-EU countries would be involved, or any response from Frontex, Spain or Morocco.

Analysis

The proposal places returns, rather than only border surveillance, at the centre of Frontex's mandate. Its practical effect would depend on factors the reports do not cover: the legislative process, agreements with non-EU countries, and how rights complaints would be handled by national authorities. Supporters argue faster deployment and coordinated returns address gaps exposed by events such as Ceuta. Critics argue that operating beyond EU territory with a narrower internal watchdog could weaken oversight. Possible outcomes range from adoption largely as proposed to significant amendments on accountability safeguards. The figures on budget and Ceuta arrivals each rest on a single report.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.