Frontex runs out of money for migrant reintegration and closes programme to new cases

At Frontex’s headquarters in Warsaw, Poland, the agency’s spokesman Chris Borowski confirmed that it had stopped accepting new cases for its reintegration programme. The halt took effect on 2 October after the programme exhausted its 2026 budget.

Frontex has run the programme since 2022, offering financial assistance, medical support, professional training and consultations to people after they return to their countries of origin.

Demand had risen sharply. The agency receives an average of 2,368 new cases a month, while September’s caseload stood 63% above its target indicators. In the first half of 2026, case numbers were approximately 75% higher than in the same period of the previous year.

People already enrolled will continue to receive support. Frontex will also keep providing EU countries with other assistance for returns, including operational and technical support.

The agency has asked the European Commission for additional funding. It says the programme cannot reopen to new applicants without fresh funds.

The pause comes as the EU considers a stronger approach to returns for people denied residence rights. Over the past decade, the EU has hardened its migration policy, with most member countries backing more deportations and tighter border controls.

European officials have met to discuss border surveillance, increased deportations across the bloc and possible return hubs in third countries.

Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Migration, has called for a vast expansion of Frontex, with new powers, more funding and a larger workforce. He said the agency had to play a more important role.

Brunner has also called for Frontex to have greater flexibility in responding to extraordinary situations such as hybrid threats. Many EU officials have stressed the need for a rapid intervention force for border crises.

Frontex’s mandate on returns and reintegration may be expanded. The European Commission also plans to propose stronger capabilities for the agency to monitor the EU’s external borders and deploy forces quickly in emergencies.