The European Commission on Tuesday presented a proposal to strengthen the powers of the Frontex border agency so that it can act more actively in support of the return of illegal migrants.
New Powers for Frontex
According to this proposed bill, the Frontex agency will receive more resources to operate outside the territory of the European Union. This plan allows the agency to assist non-EU countries in returning migrants to their countries of origin.
This proposal comes at a time when EU member states are increasingly focusing on the return of migrants, stating that many individuals who are asked to leave the Union continue to remain in the region. The new role of Frontex has emerged following the humanitarian crisis in Ceuta last summer.
Frontex's Role in Border Management
Italian officials, for example, have imposed some temporary border controls on travel from Spain. The Prime Minister of Spain at that time criticized the response of several EU member countries to the influx of migrants to Ceuta as "selfish."
Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, told reporters: "Today we propose that Frontex become the main player for the EU in the area of returns." He added that the agency will be able to operate with a rapid reaction force that can be deployed within 24 hours and identify risks before they turn into a crisis.
The power of Frontex to expel migrants from non-EU countries means that the agency could, for example, expel a Bangladeshi citizen from Libya, where many migrants begin their final stage of travel to the Union.
This plan envisions gradually increasing the number of permanent Frontex forces to 30,000 officers and creating a "European Border and Return Reserve" consisting of 17,000 officers over the next 15 years.
These officers will remain available to member countries and can be deployed when needed. The proposal also includes the establishment of a new return coordination center within Frontex and expanding the agency's role throughout the entire expulsion process.
Read more: Twelve migrants died in Aegean sea incidents in Greece
