WARSAW, POLAND / RankWire.AI / – Frontex supported more than 33,000 returns from EU member states to non-EU countries during the first half of 2026. The total increased from approximately 30,000 in the same period last year. About 21,000 individuals returned voluntarily, compared to roughly 19,000 a year earlier. According to agency data released on Sept. 7, the current total of Frontex-supported returns since 2022 now stands at around 215,000 people.
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency assists national authorities after a person receives an enforceable return decision. Such a decision is made once all legal channels to stay in the EU have been exhausted. National authorities determine if a return is voluntary or forced. Voluntary returns involve compliance with the decision, whereas forced returns occur when individuals do not fulfill their obligation to leave. Frontex provides support for both types of return.
Germany, France, Cyprus, Belgium, and Sweden recorded the highest numbers of agency-supported returns between January and June. The main nationalities among those returned were from Türkiye, Syria, Georgia, Colombia, India, Brazil, Albania, Morocco, Nigeria, and Iraq. During this period, Frontex deployed 109 Return Specialists across 15 member states. An additional 118 Return Escort and Support Officers operated in 11 member states to facilitate travel, airport procedures, and flight logistics.
Voluntary Returns Constitute the Majority of Cases
Nearly 14,000 individuals registered for EU reintegration assistance during the first six months of 2026, a significant increase from about 8,000 during the same period in 2025. Over 80% of these participants returned voluntarily. Reintegration support may include vocational training, counseling, and grants for small businesses upon their return to home countries. Member states can also enroll other eligible returnees into this program.
Return specialists assist national authorities by managing cases, explaining available support, and securing identity documents from countries of origin. Support officers, including escorts, accompany some returnees and manage administrative tasks related to departures. Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens emphasized that operations must adhere to legal standards while safeguarding safety and dignity. He also highlighted the importance of voluntary return and reintegration programs in the agency’s ongoing efforts. The agency notes that voluntary returns can help lessen staffing and logistical pressures associated with forced removals.
Legislative Process Advances EU Return Policies
The latest statistics follow a European Union agreement reached on provisional common return rules on June 1. On June 17, the European Parliament endorsed its first-reading position with 418 votes in favor, 218 against, and 30 abstentions. The framework targets third-country nationals who do not have a legal right to remain within member states, establishing cooperation obligations and introducing a European Return Order to facilitate the recognition of return decisions across the bloc.
The approved draft permits return hubs in non-EU countries under arrangements that meet international law and human rights standards, with unaccompanied minors excluded from such agreements. Specific provisions are included for individuals considered security threats, and mutual recognition of return decisions remains voluntary for now. The data for 2026 indicates a higher volume of EU return operations compared to the previous year, with voluntary returns continuing to constitute the majority of Frontex-supported cases.