Frontex coordinated 10% more migrant returns in the first half of 2026

Frontex coordinated the return of more than 33,000 people to countries outside the European Union during the first half of 2026, according to a report released Monday. The figure represents a 10% increase from the roughly 30,000 returns recorded during the same period last year.

About two-thirds of the returns, approximately 21,000 cases, were voluntary. That compares with 19,000 voluntary returns in the first half of 2025. Voluntary departure means migrants comply with an expulsion decision and receive practical or financial help to return. Forced returns can involve escorts, medical staff or chartered flights when people do not leave as required.

Frontex said its assistance continues after migrants reach their countries of origin. Around 14,000 people registered for reintegration support in the first half of 2026, compared with 8,000 in the same period of 2025. The assistance includes vocational training, counseling and microloans for starting businesses.

The agency deployed 109 return specialists in 15 EU member states and 118 escort and support officers in 11 non-EU countries. The largest groups receiving Frontex-supported returns came from Turkey, Syria, Georgia, Colombia, India, Brazil, Albania, Morocco, Nigeria and Iraq. Germany, France, Cyprus, Belgium and Sweden recorded the highest volumes among EU member states. Frontex said it has participated in about 215,000 irregular migrant returns since 2022.