Latest news with #HansLeijtens
Euronews
25-04-2025
- General
- Euronews
I wish I didn't have to send people back to Libya, Frontex chief tells Euronews
ADVERTISEMENT Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens has told Euronews he wishes that no migrants arriving in Europe had to be returned to Libya, where they often face human rights abuses — but said his agency sometimes "has no choice". Frontex, the EU's external border and coast guard agency is regularly challenged by human rights groups for not doing enough to save lives at sea. It uses drones or planes to detect boats, often packed to the brim with people, heading in the direction of the European coastline. A coordination centre is then alerted, and the migrant boats often intercepted and returned to other Mediterranean coastlines. Among them is Libya, a key departure point for dangerous sea crossings to Europe, where severe human rights abuses of refugees and migrants, including torture, have been widely documented. Asked about the fate migrants face when deposited back on Libyan soil, Leijtens sounded a regretful tone. 'I don't want people to be returned to Libya, that's the only way we can do it, is to inform this maritime rescue coordination centre", he said. "And if it's in Libyan territory, it's the Libyans who have to take the responsibility, and they do." Leijtens said he keeps getting asked why Frontex often doesn't alert NGOs that take on the responsibility of rescuing those in danger instead of simply returning their boats to Libya itself. "That would mean that I would play with human lives, because if the NGOs are not available, then there's no coordination, then people might drown", he explained. Leijtens told Euronews that despite the fate that might await them, sometimes return is the best way of ensuring migrants don't drown. "And I cannot take that responsibility. So as long, as much as I do not like people to be returned to Libya, if I have to choose, again, I'd rather save lives than not save lives". 'Part of the ecosystem' NGOs that take on the responsibility of searching and rescuing endangered civilians often face serious hostility from EU member states, who see their work as a "pull factor" that encouraged refugees to flee. Leijtens rejected this, saying there is no evidence that the work NGOs do is the reason why often vulnerable civilians risk their lives to cross dangerous waters to Europe. He said he regards NGOs as "part of the ecosystem", with them and Frontex "cooperating" to save lives at sea. "I'm in touch with them, we speak. We try to understand each other's positions, we try to make sure that we don't sort of block each other because we all see the need to save lives at sea, for example", he told Euronews. One of Frontex's roles is the return of people whose asylum applications have been rejected. This, he explained, is an area where more cooperation with NGOs is possible. ADVERTISEMENT "For example, what we do is, after we return people, we have a so-called post-return programme, which is meant to help people pick up their lives again," Leijtens explained. Related EU border agency investigates Greece over alleged migrant rights violations Med5: Interior ministers call for strengthening of Frontex and agreements with third countries for returns "And for this, we hire NGOs to perform this on our behalf with European Frontex funding. So I think it's actually a more nuanced picture than has often been told." Leijtens, who has served as the head of Frontex for the past two years, is considering the prospect of a potential expansion in Frontex's search and rescue work. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed to increase the agency's staffing by 30,000, a number that could provide a significant boost in Frontex's mission to secure Europe's external borders. ADVERTISEMENT
Euronews
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
European Union set to reform Frontex again in 2026
ADVERTISEMENT The European Commission will propose new legislation in 2026 to reform Frontex, the European Union's border agency, with the aim of strengthening its presence, role and responsibilities, a European Commission spokesperson told Euronews. The Commission intends 'to reinforce Frontex, to further enhance border security and strengthen EU cooperation in the face of evolving threats,' the spokesperson said. Frontex is becoming an increasingly significant agency for EU countries, as migration and border management remain politically charged in mainstream political debate. The agency manages EU borders for the passage of migrants, but also to combat cross border crimes connected to illegal trafficking of a wide range of goods. "It started with being more of an information hub, a coordination mechanism, and it was only in 2019 when [Frontex] mandate became executive," the agency's executive director Hans Leijtens said in an interview with Euronews. "So, only six years ago we changed from being this hub in between member states to really having our own uniformed, armed, European staff." Based in Warsaw, the agency supports EU member states with managing their borders by providing personnel, resources, and equipment. On the ground, it assists with the implementation of EU rules, such as the migration and asylum pact, a group of laws approved in the last mandate. Frontex also engages with non-EU countries through ad hoc cooperation agreements. The new reform is set to see a significant increase of staff, resources, and border control equipment but also more roles for the agency in upcoming border management legislation and operational support in non-EU countries. Role on returns The European Commission put forward new legislation on migrant returns this February. Before the publication of the law, certain EU countries expressed their will to give Frontex a major role on returns and potentially, a wider presence in non-EU countries, according to a document seen by Euronews. Frontex's role in returns could be part of its new reform. At the moment the agency can provide 'operational and technical support' when an EU country requests it, in order to repatriate rejected asylum seekers or foreign people with no right to stay. Frontex's agents could be involved within the different phases of the process, both when the return is 'voluntary' (the returnee travels as a regular passenger on a commercial flight) or it is 'forced' (where the returnee is put on a flight and escorted to their country of origin). "After we return people, we have a so-called post-return programme, which is meant to help people pick up their lives again. And for this, we hire actually NGOs to perform this on our behalf with European Frontex funding," Leijtens told Euronews. In 2022, Frontex supported the return of 24,850 people, 40% of whom returned voluntarily. In 2023, its involvement increased jumped to 58%, according to the NGO Statewatch. Related Exclusive: EU Commission poised to propose migrant 'return hubs' in legislation Increasing staff In 2019, the reform approved an increase of staff up to 10,000 officers by 2027. "Right now we are still in the build-up, so in 2027 we should have 10,000 [agents], to be deployed in 2028. And this is composed of three categories: our own Frontex staff, short-term secondments from Member State and long-term secondments. Of this [10,000], 3,000 should be Frontex own staff," said Leijtens. According to the agency's website , Frontex counted over 2,100 staff members in 2023 in total. But the number increased significantly in the last years: currently, Frontex has 8,000 officers, of which 1,500 are directly employed by the agency - the rest are member states' staff members on short and long term assignment, a Frontex spokesperson said. In the new reform the staff will sharply increase. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen proposed to triple the agency staff based on the 2027 goal - which would mean a target of up to 30,000 officers. But there will be no deadline on when Frontex should reach such numbers, a European Commission spokesperson told Euronews. ADVERTISEMENT A Frontex spokesperson said it is "too early to discuss any details" when asked to comment on the numbers.
Arab News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
EU border agency must use aerial surveillance to save lives: Human Rights Watch
LONDON: The EU's border and coast guard agency Frontex must use its aerial surveillance capabilities to prevent refugee deaths in the Mediterranean Sea, Human Rights Watch said on Monday. The appeal came after HRW met the agency's executive director, Hans Leijtens, on April 2. He was delivered an EU-wide petition, signed by almost 18,000 people, urging Frontex to take concrete steps to help expedite the rescue of vessels in distress. This would involve the agency's aircraft sharing information with NGO vessels operating in the Mediterranean about sightings of refugee vessels. Frontex could also issue more frequent emergency alerts to all nearby vessels and provide continuous monitoring, HRW said. In the past decade, at least 31,700 people have died or been reported missing in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the International Organization for Migration. Judith Sunderland, associate Europe and Central Asia director at HRW, said: 'The shocking death toll in the Mediterranean requires concerted action. As an actor at sea, Frontex has a responsibility under international law to use its resources to facilitate rescues that end in disembarkation of rescued people in a safe place.' Part of the HRW appeal focuses on a policy of a 'broad interpretation of distress' that if adopted by Frontex would allow it to take a precautionary approach in its alert system. Late last year, several UN agencies jointly called for a broader understanding of distress, which would 'reflect the foreseeable danger facing unseaworthy boats at sea and the positive obligations attached to the right to life,' HRW said. The European Commission has suggested expanding Frontex significantly, tripling the number of border guards to 30,000 and allowing the agency to carry out increased deportations through a mandate review in 2026. Since its creation in 2004, Frontex's size, role and responsibilities have grown. Its annual budget reached €922 million ($1 billion) in 2024, up from just €142 million in 2015. Changes to its mandate must strengthen its human rights standards, transparency and accountability, HRW said, highlighting the utility that a 'broad interpretation of distress' would provide in saving lives at sea. Frontex previously faced criticism over its sharing of aerial intelligence with authorities in Libya, with HRW documenting the agency's complicity in the abuse and indefinite detention of migrants in the North African country. The intelligence-sharing is part of an EU policy to bolster the ability of Libya and Tunisia — common departure countries for refugees — to patrol their coastlines. 'People across the EU are sending a message that no one should be left to die at sea,' Sunderland said. 'As warmer weather may see more attempts to cross the Mediterranean, Frontex should act now to ensure it does everything it can to prevent avoidable tragedies.'
