WARSAW, POLAND / RankWire.AI / – Frontex supported over 33,000 returns from EU member countries to non-EU nations in the first half of 2026. This number increased from approximately 30,000 during the same period last year. Around 21,000 individuals returned voluntarily, compared to about 19,000 in the previous year. According to figures released on Sept. 7, the total supported returns since 2022 now amount to roughly 215,000 people.
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency assists national authorities once a person receives a legally enforceable return order. This order is issued after all legal options to stay in the EU are exhausted. National authorities then determine whether the return is voluntary or enforced. Voluntary returns involve compliance with the order, whereas forced returns happen when individuals do not fulfill their obligation to leave. The agency provides support in both scenarios.
Germany, France, Cyprus, Belgium, and Sweden recorded the highest number of agency-supported returns between January and June. The main nationalities among those being 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. Additionally, 118 Return Escort and Support Officers worked across 11 member states to assist with travel, airport procedures, and flight logistics.
Most returns are voluntary
Nearly 14,000 people registered for EU reintegration assistance during the first six months of 2026. This is a significant rise from about 8,000 registrations in the same period in 2025. Over 80% of those participating returned voluntarily. The reintegration support includes vocational training, counseling, and grants for small businesses once individuals return to their countries. Member states may also include other eligible returnees in the program.
Return specialists help national authorities handle cases, explain available support, and secure identity documents from the countries of origin. Escort and support officers accompany some returnees and manage administrative tasks related to departures. Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens emphasized that operations must follow legal standards while ensuring safety and dignity. He also noted that voluntary returns and reintegration support are key elements of the agency’s current efforts. The agency states that voluntary returns can lessen staffing and logistical pressures associated with forced removals.
EU return procedures advance through legislative steps
These latest figures follow European Union negotiators reaching a provisional deal on common return rules on June 1. The European Parliament approved its first-reading stance on June 17 with 418 votes in favor, 218 against, and 30 abstentions. The framework applies to third-country nationals who lack a legal right to stay in member states. It also outlines cooperation obligations and establishes a European Return Order to facilitate recognition of return decisions across the EU.
The agreed-upon text allows for return hubs in non-EU countries, provided they follow international law and human rights standards. Unaccompanied minors are excluded from these arrangements. The document also includes measures for individuals considered security threats and maintains voluntary mutual recognition of return decisions for now. The 2026 data show an increase in EU return operations compared to the previous year, with voluntary returns still accounting for the majority of Frontex-supported cases.