Frontex Sends New Corps of Officers to Austria to Support Voluntary Returns of Migrants
“Four experienced officers are going to cooperate with the experts at the Federal Agency for Reception and Support Services (BBU – Bundesagentur für Betreuungs- und Unterstützungsleistungen) on supporting the transport of non-EU citizens returning voluntarily from different locations in Austria to the departure points in Vienna, like airport or bus and train stations,” the statement issued by the Frontex reads, AtoZSerwisPlus.comreports.
According to Frontex, officers on foot will also be able to assist migrants during all airport procedures, such as check-in and security checks.
The same also noted that over the past months, it has successfully deployed officers on foot to support returns at Vienna airport and four other EU airports in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and France.
As the agency explains, voluntary returns are a priority for the Austrian Ministry of the Interior and Frontex.
In the first half of 2022, Frontex has assisted the Member States in returning more than 11,000 persons who do not have the right to stay in the EU by decision of the relevant national authorities, of which over 30 per cent have returned voluntarily.
Previously, Frontex has deployed drones to patrol the Eastern Mediterranean to help Greek authorities detect cross-border crime and rescue people at sea.
Through a statement, Frontex said that part of the event to launch the activity were Greek officials, including Secretary General for Insular and Aegean Policies Emmanuel Koutoulakis and Vice Admiral of the Hellenic Coast Guard Georgios Alexandrakis.
According to Frontex, this aircraft will be part of Poseidon, which is one of the agency’s largest operations at the EU’s external borders.
There are currently 429 Frontex officers and staff in Greece, along with 14 boats, two aircraft and 40 vehicles, including patrol cars, transport vehicles and thermal imaging that help the Greek authorities to manage the borders.
In March, Frontex also deployed troop officers to Moldova to support the ongoing management of the border situation amid a growing number of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.
Moreover, Frontex also explains that the purpose of this joint operation in Moldova is to provide increased technical and operational assistance to the host country to deal with the arrival of Ukrainian refugees.
