01/03/2023 (Agence Europe) – The Dutchman Hans Leijtens took up his post as executive director of the Frontex agency on Wednesday 1 March, replacing Aija Kalnaja, who had temporarily succeeded Fabrice Leggeri in mid-2022, after the latter’s resignation due to the internal dysfunctions raised by OLAF (see EUROPE 12942/1). The director of Frontex had pledged in January, at a press conference with the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, to restore confidence in the agency’s operations which is regularly accused of taking part in the pushbacks of migrants alongside national coastguards and to introduce maximum transparency on these activities (see EUROPE 13103/1). (SP)