Key facts
- Frontex is set to gain new powers for deportations beyond EU borders.
- The agency will be tasked with responding to border crises within 24 hours.
- The overhaul aims to give Frontex more resources and operational flexibility.
- A reserve force is being considered to bolster Frontex's capacity without depleting national resources.
The European Commission is preparing a significant reform of the EU's border agency, Frontex, set to be unveiled on October 27. The proposed overhaul aims to transform Frontex into a "European return agency" with expanded powers to conduct deportations of individuals without legal right to remain in the EU, including operations outside the bloc's territory. The agency will also be mandated to respond to border crises within 24 hours, drawing lessons from past events like the Ceuta migration crisis. The reform seeks to bolster Frontex's operational capacity and early warning capabilities, potentially through a larger reserve force to avoid depleting national border guard resources.