European Commission proposes expansion of Frontex to 30,000 personnel

On October 27, 2026, the European Commission presented a proposal to significantly expand the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) as part of a new strategy to manage migration. The plan aims to increase the agency's permanent staff from its current 3,000 employees to 30,000 by 2041. The proposal was introduced in Brussels by Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner Magnus Brunner, citing lessons learned from past migration crises, including the situation in Ceuta.

Key measures include the creation of a 'European Border and Return Reserve' consisting of 17,000 personnel available for rapid deployment to member states. The mandate of the agency will be expanded to include centralized equipment procurement, the digitalization of return and readmission processes, and the monitoring of publicly accessible social media content for information on migration flows. Furthermore, Frontex will gain the authority to support return operations between third countries under specific conditions, effectively positioning the agency as the central coordinator for all migrant returns within the European Union.