WARSAW, POLAND / RankWire.AI / – Frontex supported the repatriation of more than 33,000 individuals from European Union member states to countries outside the EU in the first half of 2026. This figure surpasses the approximately 30,000 returns documented during the same period in 2025. Around 21,000 people chose to return voluntarily, an increase from roughly 19,000 a year prior. These recent figures bring the total number of Frontex-backed returns since 2022 to approximately 215,000 individuals.
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency supports national governments following the issuance of enforceable return orders. Such orders are issued after individuals involved have exhausted the legal avenues to stay within the EU. It is the responsibility of national authorities to determine whether each departure occurs voluntarily or through enforced removal. Frontex then offers operational assistance for eligible cases, which may include case management, coordination of travel, document support, and aid during departures from participating member states.
Germany, France, Cyprus, Belgium, and Sweden reported the highest volumes of Frontex-supported returns from January to June. Citizens from countries such as Türkiye, Syria, Georgia, Colombia, India, Brazil, Albania, Morocco, Nigeria, and Iraq were most frequently involved. During this six-month window, Frontex deployed 109 Return Specialists across 15 member states and sent 118 Return Escort and Support Officers across 11 countries to assist national authorities with departure logistics and procedures.
Voluntary departures continue to dominate
Reintegration programs funded by the EU also experienced a notable rise in the first half of the year. Nearly 14,000 individuals registered for reintegration assistance, compared to around 8,000 during the same period in 2025. The majority—over 80%—had returned voluntarily. Support measures include vocational training, counseling, and grants aimed at small businesses. Member states can register eligible returnees for assistance even if Frontex did not directly support their repatriation journey.
Return Specialists collaborate with national agencies on individual cases, providing information on available return and reintegration services. They also assist in obtaining identity and travel documents from countries of origin. Return Escort and Support Officers are sometimes present during departures, managing practical aspects at airports and during flights. These activities are part of Frontex’s wider return operations throughout the EU. The agency’s statistics distinguish between operational return support and broader reintegration registrations.
Progress in the EU return policy framework in 2026
This latest data aligns with ongoing efforts by the European Union to develop a unified legal structure for returns. On June 1, EU negotiators reached a provisional agreement on new regulations. The European Parliament adopted its first-reading position on June 17 with a vote of 418 in favor, 218 against, and 30 abstentions. The proposed framework targets third-country nationals without a legal right to stay and introduces a European Return Order to facilitate recognition of return decisions across member states.
The agreed framework also envisions return hubs outside the EU, operating under arrangements compliant with international law and human rights standards. The policy explicitly states that unaccompanied minors cannot be sent to such hubs. Provisions also include separate measures for individuals identified as security threats. Currently, mutual recognition of return decisions remains voluntary. In this context, Frontex recorded increased supported returns early in 2026, with voluntary departures continuing to account for the majority of cases.