WARSAW, POLAND / RankWire.AI / – Frontex documented more than 33,000 returns from EU member states to non-EU nations during the first half of 2026. This represents an increase from approximately 30,000 in the same period last year. About 21,000 individuals returned voluntarily, compared to roughly 19,000 a year earlier. According to agency data released on Sept. 7, the total supported returns by Frontex since 2022 now number around 215,000 people.
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency assists national authorities once a person receives an enforceable return order. That order is issued after all legal options to remain within the EU have been exhausted. It is then up to national authorities to determine whether the return will be voluntary or enforced. Voluntary returns involve compliance with the order, whereas enforced returns occur if the individual refuses to leave. The agency provides support for both types of return processes.
Germany, France, Cyprus, Belgium, and Sweden recorded the highest numbers of agency-supported returns between January and June. The main nationalities among those returned included individuals from Türkiye, Syria, Georgia, Colombia, India, Brazil, Albania, Morocco, Nigeria, and Iraq. During this period, Frontex deployed 109 Return Specialists across 15 member states. Additionally, 118 Return Escort and Support Officers operated across 11 member states to facilitate travel, airport procedures, and flight logistics.
Most cases involve voluntary returns
In the first six months of 2026, nearly 14,000 individuals registered for EU reintegration assistance, a rise from about 8,000 in the same period of 2025. Over 80% of these participants returned voluntarily. Support for reintegration may include vocational training, counseling, and grants for small businesses once individuals return to their home countries. Member states also have the option to enroll other eligible returnees into the program.
Return specialists assist national authorities with case management, explaining the available support, and securing identity documents from countries of origin. Escort and support officers accompany some returnees and handle administrative tasks related to departures. Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens emphasized that operations must adhere to legal standards while ensuring safety and dignity. He highlighted the agency’s focus on voluntary return and reintegration support, noting that these approaches can lessen staffing and logistical challenges associated with forced removals.
Legislative process advances EU return policies
The latest statistics follow European Union negotiations that resulted in a provisional agreement on common return rules on June 1. The European Parliament approved its first reading on June 17 with 418 votes in favor, 218 against, and 30 abstentions. The new framework targets third-country nationals without a legal right to stay in member states. It also establishes cooperation obligations and introduces a European Return Order to facilitate recognition of return decisions throughout the EU.
The negotiated text allows for return hubs in non-EU countries under arrangements that align with international law and human rights standards, excluding unaccompanied minors. It also includes specific measures for individuals considered security threats and maintains mutual recognition of return decisions as voluntary for the time being. The 2026 figures indicate an increase in EU return operations compared to the previous year, with voluntary returns remaining the majority of cases supported by Frontex.