Commission promises Frontex role review for 2026, implementation cash for member states

In a letter to EU leaders, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlines plans for EU migration policy, confirming a 2026 review of Frontex’s mandate to boost its role in returns.

In a migration-focused letter to EU leaders ahead of this week's European Council that also comes a week after the unveiling of new EU return rules, von der Leyen sets out key dates for Frontex reforms and speeding up implementation of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. 

On Frontex, the letter sets 2026 as the date for the announced review of the EU border agency's mandate, adding that it will be empowered to organise return operations directly with third countries and see its role in preventing illegal migration expanded.

The Commission also confirmed that the second phase of its return strategy, which focuses on a proposal to digitalise return case management, will be presented in the second half of this year. 

By the end of 2025, Frontex and the Commission also aims to assess ways to strengthen the return component of the Standing Corps - the permanent officials of Frontex - with the aim of expanding the agency's support for removals, according to an annex to the letter.

As part of its broader strategy, the Commission already announced last year its plans to triple the Standing Corps, going beyond the 2019 Frontex Regulation’s target of 10,000 officers by 2027. 

Frontex was established in 2004 in response to the growing challenges of managing the EU's external borders. The agency's budget has risen from €143 million in 2015 to €922 million in 2024.

Plans to expand the agency were already evident when the European Parliament's budget committee approved a €250 million plan for Frontex's new headquarters in Warsaw in January.

Ongoing work on the implementation push

In the letter, which highlights ongoing efforts to strengthen third country partnerships, the Commission reaffirmed its push to implement key aspects of the Migration Pact, set to take effect in mid-2026.  

As previously announced by the EU's migration chief, Magnus Brunner, the central element of the new migration strategy will be the creation of an EU-wide list of “safe countries of origin”, which the Commission confirmed will be presented in the coming weeks and could be further expanded or revised over time. 

The formal designation of safe countries of origin would likely speed up asylum processing and widen the list of countries to which people can be returned as they would be considered safe.

The concept isn't new, having been first proposed by former European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker during the 2015 migration crisis, but it remains controversial in some countries. Italy's list of safe countries, for example, is currently caught up in the courts as Meloni's government disagrees with the court over the Italy-Albania migration deal.

Sources told Euractiv that the EU-wide list could be published before 16 April, possibly to coincide with the review of the "safe third country" (STC) concept under the provisions of the EU's new migration pact.

Under the new Asylum Procedures Regulation, the Commission is also mandated to carry out a review of the STC by 12 June 2025. Euractiv previously reported that the Commission had consulted member states to bring forward the review to March instead of June.

The STC concept allows asylum seekers to be relocated to a country where they can receive protection, rather than remaining in the country where they applied.

According to a document seen by Euractiv last month, the Commission is considering removing or relaxing the "connection criterion" for returning asylum seekers under the safe third country concept.

However, member states that have not yet submitted their national implementation plans, which are essential for accountability and clarification of the measures required, are under pressure, with von der Leyen urging them to complete this process "as soon as possible."  

Originally due in December, many plans were submitted late, with Euractiv reporting delays as the deadline approached.

According to sources, two member states have yet to submit their plans, including Poland, which has been particularly opposed to the EU pact.

More cash for member states

Von der Leyen's letter also announced an additional €3 billion in EU funding for the implementation of the Pact from 2025 to 2027, including support for member states hosting Ukrainians under temporary protection (TPD).

The TPD, which was triggered on 4 March 2022 and extended until 4 March 2026, provides protection to Ukrainians fleeing the war with Russia.

With another year to go before the protection is set to expire, the Commission is now exploring options, including a possible extension, a transition to national residency for work or study, and support for returnees to Ukraine.

An additional €1.6 billion from the mid-term review of member states' programmes will also address urgent needs and complement the pact's funding, which will require adjustments in national budgets, the letter added.

[DE]