The European Commission on Tuesday (October 27) proposed expanding the staff and powers of Frontex, the European Union's joint border police force, to include transfers of migrants between non-EU countries, Commissioners Henna Virkkunen and Magnus Brunner said in Brussels.

In a press conference in the EU headquarters, Virkkunen said the new rules would strengthen its mandate so it can act faster and more effectively, and that it would also get state-of-the-art equipment and technology.

Under the proposal, Frontex's standing corps would grow gradually to 30,000 officers, with a reaction force able to deploy on short notice in an emergency.

Brunner, the commissioner for internal affairs and migration, said Frontex would for the first time have an explicit mandate to monitor social media for content that endangers people or border security. He said the aim is for Frontex to be on the ground "in hours, not in weeks, as it is the case now."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

EU to propose expanding powers of border police force for migration

VIDEO SHOWS: EUROPEAN SECURITY COMMISSIONER HENNA VIRKKUNNEN AND EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND MIGRATION MAGNUS BRUNNER ANNOUNCING MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN EUROPEAN BORDER AND COAST GUARD AGENCY FRONTEX / ARCHIVE OF FRONTEX

SHOWS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 27, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access all)

1. EUROPEAN SECURITY COMMISSIONER HENNA VIRKKUNNEN AND EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND MIGRATION MAGNUS BRUNNER ARRIVING FOR PRESS CONFERENCE (MUTE)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN SECURITY COMMISSIONER, HENNA VIRKKUNNEN, SAYING:

"Frontex already plays a critically important role in supporting member states to manage Europe's external borders. Under the new rules, its mandate will be further reinforced, enabling it to act faster and more effectively. And in addition, we will also make sure that Frontex has state-of-the-art equipment and technology at its disposal."

SKOPJE, NORTH MACEDONIA (ARCHIVE - APRIL 20, 2023) (REUTERS – Access all)

3. VARIOUS OF FRONTEX BORDER GUARDS FROM ITALY, GERMANY, CZECH REPUBLIC IN LINE

4. FRONTEX EMBLEM ON A CAR

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 27, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access all)

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND MIGRATION, MAGNUS BRUNNER, SAYING:

"For the first time, Frontex will have an explicit mandate to monitor social media for content that endangers people, but also, of course, border security. The second point there is to have better access for important information. We can counter events before, as I said, before they actually become a crisis. And the third point, a very important point, is if there is a threat to our borders and therefore to our security also together, there will be a quick reaction force to intervene very quickly. We want Frontex to be there in hours, not in weeks, as it is the case now."

SKOPJE, NORTH MACEDONIA (ARCHIVE - APRIL 20, 2023) (REUTERS – Access all)

6. ITALIAN POLICE DISPLAYING NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT

7. MEMBER OF AUSTRIAN BORDER GUARD STANDING

8. EU FLAG ON BORDER GUARD'S UNIFORM

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 27, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access all)

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND MIGRATION, MAGNUS BRUNNER, SAYING:

"Today, we propose to make Frontex the central EU actor on returns. Frontex will be responsible for return-related support actually from A to Z. I would say from strategic planning on the one hand to more cost-efficient returns and also to reintegration."

10. JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND MIGRATION, MAGNUS BRUNNER, SAYING:

"But we also introduce the ability for Frontex to support third countries on returns, so carry out returns from a third country. And of course this will only be possible if there are agreements in place and where this is also, of course, in the interest of the European Union."

12. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING