The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) released data indicating a total of over 33,000 returns to countries of origin during the first six months of this year. This number represents an increase compared to the approximately 30,000 recorded in the same period in 2025.
Of these returns, about 21,000 individuals, which corresponds to two-thirds of the total, chose to return voluntarily, exceeding the volume registered in the corresponding period of 2025 by 2,000.
It is important to note that all returns facilitated by Frontex stem from a decision to return that can no longer be contested, as all legal avenues for remaining in the European Union have been exhausted.
The processes are divided into two types: in cases of voluntary return, individuals comply with the determination and leave European territory with the agency's support; in forced returns, the departure is carried out by authorities due to non-compliance with the obligation to leave the territory.
Although the classification of a return as voluntary or forced is determined by national authorities, Frontex provides support for both modes of return. The community agency also reported that the total number of people whose returns have been supported by Frontex since 2022 amounts to about 215,000.
In the first half of the year, the Member States that reported the highest volume of returns supported by Frontex between January and June were Germany, France, Cyprus, Belgium, and Sweden.
Among the nationalities most represented among those who returned to their countries of origin are citizens of Turkey, Syria, Georgia, Colombia, India, Brazil, Albania, Morocco, Nigeria, and Iraq.
Additionally, during this period, the European agency observed an increase in demand for reintegration programs, with about 14,000 people signing up between January and June to receive assistance, an increase compared to the approximately eight thousand registered in the same period of 2025.
The EU's legal framework regarding returns is undergoing modification, after the European Parliament and the Council of Europe reached a consensus last June on a regulation aimed at establishing a common European return system.
The new guidelines establish, among other points, that forced return will be applied when an individual does not cooperate, moves to another Member State to evade the procedure, or poses a risk to security.
Finally, the European Commission is committed to presenting a proposal at the end of this month aimed at strengthening Frontex's mandate regarding returns and the support provided to Member States.