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    • Frontex Opens New Contingent to Strengthen Border Coordination in Portugal and Spain

    2026-06-25

    Lisbon, 24 June -Today, Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, opened a new Contingent Command in Lisbon, Portugal, bringing its coordination and leadership closer to one of Europe's most important external frontiers. The new structure covers Portugal and Spain. 

    Each Frontex Contingent is a regional command within the European Border and Coast Guard Standing Corps, the EU's first uniformed service. It brings officers, planning and decision-making together in one place, close to where operations actually happen. 

    Contingent 5 will steer Frontex activities across the sea and air borders of Portugal and Spain. These two countries carry particular weight. Spain sits on the front line of two of Europe’s most active migratory routes. Both countries also run some of Europe's busiest international airports, where Frontex officers support border checks and help counter document fraud and cross-border crime. 

    "With this Contingent, we are bringing Frontex closer to the field and to the people who manage these borders every day. Portugal and Spain are key partners, at sea and air borders. Working with them on the ground, side by side, we can respond faster and plan better." Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens.
    "The deployment of Frontex Contingent 5 in Portugal represents another important step in strengthening European border management. By supporting joint operations and enhancing cooperation between national authorities and Frontex, Contingent 5 helps ensure effective border security, operational readiness, and solidarity across the EU.” Portugal’s Minister for Home Affairs, Luís Neves.
    "Twenty years ago, we began to build a common approach to the control of external borders. Today we are taking a new step forward with the opening of Contingent 5. We have gone a long way, working together, pooling our resources and capabilities, with mutual support and shared responsibility, embracing technological innovation and learning from our shared experience." Spain's Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska

    Contingent 5 is part of a wider shift toward more localised leadership across the EU. Frontex has already launched contingent commands in a number of countries in the European Union. Today, 3 800 Frontex officers work at Europe's borders. 

    The opening ceremony brought together more than 120 invited guests, including representatives from political institutions, law enforcement authorities from Portugal and Spain, senior Frontex management and leaders of EU agencies based in Lisbon. Among them were Lorraine Nolan, Executive Director of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), and José Ferreira, Executive Director of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre Narcotics (MAOC-N).  

    The new Contingent Command in Lisbon marks another step in Frontex’s efforts to bring leadership and coordination closer to where the operations happen. By working side by side with national authorities, Frontex is better prepared, responds faster, and provides support where it is needed most.