WARSAW, POLAND / RankWire.AI / – Frontex backed more than 33,000 repatriations from EU countries to non-EU nations in the first half of 2026. This number increased from approximately 30,000 during the same period last year. Of these, nearly 21,000 individuals returned voluntarily, compared to roughly 19,000 in the previous year. According to agency data released on Sept. 7, this brings the total supported returns since 2022 to around 215,000 people.
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency assists national authorities after an individual receives an enforceable return order. Such a decision is made once all legal options to stay within the EU have been exhausted. National authorities determine whether the return is voluntary or enforced. Voluntary returns involve compliance with the decision, while forced ones occur when the individual refuses to leave. The agency provides support for both types of removal.
Germany, France, Cyprus, Belgium, and Sweden registered the highest numbers of agency-supported returns from January to June. The main nationalities among those returned were from Türkiye, Syria, Georgia, Colombia, India, Brazil, Albania, Morocco, Nigeria, and Iraq. During this period, Frontex deployed 109 Return Specialists across 15 member states, while another 118 Return Escort and Support Officers operated in 11 countries, aiding with travel, airport procedures, and flight logistics.
Most Returns Are Voluntary
In the first half of 2026, close to 14,000 individuals signed up for EU reintegration aid, up from around 8,000 during the same timeframe in 2025. Over 80% of these participants returned voluntarily. Reintegration programs can offer vocational training, counseling, and grants for small businesses once individuals return home. Member states can also include other eligible returnees in these schemes.
Frontex’s return specialists assist national authorities in case management, explaining available support, and obtaining identification documents from their countries of origin. Escort and support officers accompany some returnees and handle administrative responsibilities related to departures. Hans Leijtens, the Executive Director of Frontex, emphasized that operations must adhere to legal standards while prioritizing safety and dignity. He also noted that voluntary return and reintegration support are central to the agency’s current efforts, as they help reduce the staffing and logistical burdens associated with forced removals.
Legislative Progress on EU Return Policies Continues
These recent figures follow the European Union reaching a provisional agreement on common return rules on June 1. The European Parliament ratified its first-reading position on June 17 with a vote of 418 in favor, 218 against, and 30 abstentions. The proposed framework addresses third-country nationals without a legal right to stay in member states, establishing cooperation obligations and creating a European Return Order to facilitate recognition of return decisions across the EU.
The agreement allows for return hubs in non-EU countries under arrangements that respect international law and human rights standards, though unaccompanied minors are excluded. It also includes specific measures for individuals considered security threats and maintains the voluntary nature of mutual recognition of return decisions for the time being. The 2026 data indicates a higher volume of EU return operations compared to the previous year, with voluntary returns still representing the majority of Frontex-supported cases.