On Friday 19 December, Member States will be invited to take note of the reflections of the Danish Presidency of the EU Council on the future of Frontex and how the European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s future mandate should be revised.
The Presidency again presented a summary of current thought on the subject - already summarised in a previous note (see EUROPE 13769/12) - in a note dated 12 December, in which it explained that discussions at the Schengen Council on 14 October revealed “broad agreement amongst ministers on three guiding principles for the future of Frontex [...]: the starting point should be the operational needs of the Member States; the focus should remain on the agency’s core functions relating to external borders and return; [and] cooperation with third countries is a key issue, including a Frontex role in returns from third countries to other third countries“.
The note reiterates the preferences of Member States for an increase in Frontex’s permanent staff only if necessary, as most “do not perceive at this stage an added value or operational need for any significant enlargement of the standing corps”.
Member States are also in favour of Frontex playing a greater role in cooperation with third countries, for example in returning migrants to other third countries, or helping Member States transfer people to potential future return centres in third countries.
Furthermore, hybrid threats have become “a key challenge at the external borders since the adoption of the current regulation in 2019“ and Frontex should have a clear mandate to help Member States facing the instrumentalisation of migrants “if a Member State requests Frontex support”.
This could include a strengthened role for Frontex in monitoring the airspace above land borders, for example to help combat the use of drones. However, some insist that Frontex’s role must avoid any involvement in defence issues.
The Commission is due to present a new mandate for Frontex in the third quarter of 2026; it has already planned to strengthen the agency’s missions regarding returns and the fight against smuggling networks. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)