Minister Van Bossuyt calls for stronger Frontex and more effective returns in Munich

Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt is attending the Munich Migration Meeting this weekend, where she is meeting with a small group of European counterparts to discuss the next steps in European migration policy. For Van Bossuyt, the priorities are clear: stronger European external borders, a greater role for Frontex and more effective returns. “Those who have no right to stay must actually be returned.”

The European Commission plans to significantly strengthen the role of Frontex in the coming years. Proposals include expanding the European Border and Coast Guard standing corps, while work is also under way to revise the agency’s mandate.

Minister Van Bossuyt supports giving Frontex greater capacity to act: “Europe’s external border must be a border in the true sense of the word. If we want to bring illegal migration under control, Europe must be able to act faster and more decisively at its external borders to prevent people from simply gaining access to European territory. Those who have no right to stay must actually be returned. Frontex can and should play a greater role in this as well.”

More pressure on countries that refuse to cooperate on returns

Returns are therefore also high on the agenda in Munich. Discussions include how Europe can secure greater cooperation from non-EU countries in taking back their own nationals. Van Bossuyt believes Europe should be prepared to use all the leverage at its disposal.

“The European Union is a major economic and diplomatic player. We need to make much greater use of that position. Cooperation is a two-way street. If countries want to cooperate with the EU, we should also be able to expect them to take back their own nationals when those individuals have no right to remain here. If they refuse, there should be consequences, for example in terms of visas, trade or development aid,” Minister Van Bossuyt said.

No repeat of Ceuta

In Munich, the ministers are also discussing how Europe can respond more effectively when an external border suddenly comes under exceptional pressure, as happened during the events in Ceuta last summer. One of the proposals under consideration is a European emergency mechanism for crisis situations at the EU’s external borders.

The first experiences with the new European Migration Pact, which has been in force since 12 June, are also being discussed. Van Bossuyt wants to give the pact sufficient time to prove itself in practice. Belgium is calling for a thorough review after one year, in June 2027, to identify any bottlenecks and determine where rules can be made simpler or more effective.

“The Migration Pact was an important first step, but our work is far from finished. In the period ahead, we need to focus above all on strengthening the links that remain too weak: protecting our external borders and ensuring that returns actually take place.”