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. This number 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 total supported returns since 2022 now amount to around 215,000 people.
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency assists national authorities once a person receives an enforceable return order. Such orders are issued after all legal options to stay within the EU are exhausted. It is up to national authorities to determine whether a return is voluntary or forced. Voluntary returns involve compliance with the decision, while forced removals occur when the individual fails to meet the obligation to leave. The agency provides support for both types of returns.
Germany, France, Cyprus, Belgium, and Sweden recorded the highest numbers of agency-supported returns from January through June. The main nationalities among those returned included individuals from Türkiye, Syria, Georgia, Colombia, India, Brazil, Albania, Morocco, Nigeria, and Iraq. During this period, Frontex deployed 109 Return Specialists across 15 member states. Additionally, 118 Return Escort and Support Officers operated in 11 member states to facilitate travel, airport procedures, and flight arrangements.
Most Returns Are Voluntary
In the first six months of 2026, nearly 14,000 people registered for EU reintegration support, an increase from about 8,000 registrations during the same period in 2025. Over 80% of these returnees chose voluntary departure. Reintegration assistance may include vocational training, counseling, and grants for small businesses upon return to their home countries. Member states can also enroll other eligible returnees into the program.
Return specialists play a key role in managing cases, explaining available support options, and obtaining identity documents from countries of origin. Support officers accompany some returnees and handle administrative tasks related to departures. Hans Leijtens, the Frontex Executive Director, emphasized that operations must comply with legal requirements while prioritizing safety and dignity. He also stressed that voluntary returns and reintegration support are central to the agency’s current activities. The agency notes that voluntary returns can help ease staffing and logistical pressures associated with forced removals.
Legislative Developments in EU Return Policies
Following recent developments, European Union negotiators reached a provisional agreement on common return rules on June 1. The European Parliament endorsed its first-reading stance on June 17 with a vote of 418 in favor, 218 against, and 30 abstentions. The proposed framework targets third-country nationals lacking a legal right to remain in member states and establishes cooperation obligations as well as a European Return Order to facilitate recognition of return decisions throughout the bloc.
The approved text allows for return hubs in non-EU countries, provided they operate under arrangements that respect international law and human rights standards. Unaccompanied minors are explicitly excluded from these arrangements. It also features specific measures for individuals considered security threats and maintains voluntary recognition of return decisions for the time being. Despite the increase in 2026 EU return figures compared to the previous year, voluntary returns continue to constitute the majority of Frontex-supported cases.