October turned plans into practice. From launching our first full-scale operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina to testing the EU’s new screening rules on Lampedusa, from snowy mountain patrols to space-based data and charity runs, the month showed what European cooperation looks like when it’s lived out at the borders every day.
In Sarajevo, a new chapter opened in cooperation between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina as Frontex launched its first full-scale operation in the country. More than one hundred officers from across Europe are now working shoulder to shoulder with local border guards, combining European expertise with local knowledge to manage borders safely and effectively.
The operation is focused on strengthening border management, tackling cross-border crime, and improving information exchange, all while fully respecting fundamental rights. At Sarajevo Airport, Executive Director Hans Leijtens, together with Magnus Brunner, the EU’s Migration Commissioner, and our local partners, met with officers and reviewed the assets deployed by Frontex, underlining the shared ownership of this mission.
This deployment is the first implemented under the EU-Bosnia and Herzegovina Status Agreement. On the first day of his field visit, the Executive Director met with the national authorities, who described the operation as a significant step forward on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path towards European integration and its contribution to collective European security. Frontex’s presence in the region reflects a broader European commitment: to build practical, everyday cooperation that makes borders safer, more humane, and better managed for everyone involved.
Further south, on Lampedusa, the future of EU border management was tested in real time. Over two weeks, Frontex worked alongside the EU Agency for Asylum, Europol, Italian Coast Guard, Guardia di Finanza, Carabinieri, and Polizia di Stato to trial the new EU screening process foreseen under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
The aim was simple but demanding to make sure that the new system works smoothly in practice before it is rolled out across the Union in 2026. Joint teams tried out new tools, adjusted workflows, and rehearsed how different services will interact when the system becomes fully operational. Throughout, they focused not only on efficiency and speed, but also on ensuring that every step of the process remains respectful of people’s rights and dignity.
The exercise on Lampedusa showed that when European agencies and national authorities prepare together, abstract legislation turns into practical routines that are both orderly and humane.
In Venice, the Frontex Consultative Forum took a step back from the frontline to ask a crucial question: How do we make the EU’s new border screening rules work in practice, not just on paper?
The seminar brought together experts to discuss what real safeguards look like at the border. It was not just about drafting procedures, but about designing systems that protect rights by default, identify vulnerabilities early, and ensure that safeguards do not get lost between legal texts and daily practice. The conversations in Venice underscored a key point: when civil society, EU agencies, and national authorities sit down at the same table, we get screening models that are more transparent, more robust, and better anchored in fundamental rights.
At Cascais Airport in Portugal, October was about preparing for moments no one wants to see but everyone must be ready to face. Frontex joined the Polícia de Segurança Pública and the Portuguese National Institute for Medical Emergency for a major emergency simulation drill designed for rescEU Emergency Medical Teams disaster response trainees and trainers.
Our officers took on the role of third-country border guards, adding realism and complexity to the scenario. The exercise tested coordination between border and medical services, challenged decision-making under pressure, and strengthened the ability to respond to large-scale emergencies that could affect both travellers and local communities. The lesson from Cascais is clear: training never stops, because when crises do happen, preparation measured in hours of practice can translate directly into lives saved.
In Madrid, Frontex colleagues laced up their running shoes for the Carrera Solidaria ‘Ruta 091,’ a ten-kilometre charity race organised by the Policía Nacional. The proceeds go to the Luzón Foundation, which supports people affected by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
For our participants, the race was more than a sporting event. It was a chance to embody the values that guide our mission every day: solidarity with those facing hardship, teamwork among colleagues and partners, and community support that extends beyond the workplace. Running alongside Spanish officers, Frontex staff showed that protecting, cooperating, and standing united do not stop at the border fence; they are part of how we show up as members of our communities too.
At the Kipi Border Crossing Point, Greece’s busiest crossing with Türkiye, October’s numbers tell a stark story: six separate incidents, more than thirty migrants discovered in life-threatening conditions, and six human smuggling facilitators arrested in just one month.
Thousands of trucks pass through Kipi every day, and smugglers exploit that constant flow by hiding people in cargo spaces with almost no air, no light, and often extreme temperatures. Every additional hour in these conditions raises the risk of suffocation or heatstroke. That is why Frontex supports Greek authorities around the clock at this critical crossing.
This month, a Frontex team made up of officers from the French Police Nationale, German Bundespolizei, and Romanian Poliția Română used CO₂ and heartbeat detectors to locate hidden individuals before tragedy could occur. Yet the technology only works because people do. Behind each detection stands an officer who noticed something slightly off, took the time to check, and made the decision to act even if it slowed the queue. Their vigilance turns equipment into life-saving tools. To all colleagues on the frontline: your dedication quite literally saves lives.
The Frontex Strategic Risk Analysis Network met for the thirteenth time, bringing together experts from all EU Member States, eu-LISA, EU Agency for Asylum, European External Action Service, and the academic world. Their shared goal was to look ahead and develop strategic foresight for border management, so Europe can anticipate challenges instead of merely reacting to them.
The meeting featured work on the Strategic Risk Analysis Report 2026, updates from the European Commission on border management developments, and scenario-based workshops exploring possible futures. Operational experience anchored these discussions: the Guardia di Finanza, Polizia di Stato, and Italian Coast Guard shared insights from their search-and-rescue work in the Mediterranean. When data, analysis, and front-line experience come together in this way, they shape better-informed decisions and more resilient borders.
Effective border management does not end at the EU’s external line on the map. It depends on strong and trusted partnerships with neighbouring regions.
In October, a Frontex delegation visited the Cape Verdean authorities to explore new avenues for cooperation and to strengthen operational links with partners across West Africa. The discussions focused on how to tackle shared challenges together, from irregular migration and cross-border crime to maritime safety and rescue needs. The message was clear on both sides: by pooling efforts and information, we can build more effective and sustainable solutions than any of us could achieve alone.
In Montenegro, autumn barely had time to settle before winter arrived. Snow has already begun to fall across the rugged mountains, even before Finland’s Lapland turns white. In these harsh conditions, Frontex officers and their national counterparts continue their work across difficult terrain and exposed positions.
The weather may change overnight, but the mission does not. Day or night, in the heat or in the midst of an abrupt storm, border officers remain on duty. Their presence is a reminder that security at Europe’s borders is not an abstract concept; it is a daily commitment carried by people who do not wait for better weather to protect others.
On 8 October 2025, a total of 196 new EU Border and Coast Guard officers began their induction training as members of the Frontex Standing Corps. These uniformed officers will go on to support the Member States along the EU’s external borders, working in mixed teams with national security services.
At the welcoming ceremony, Deputy Executive Director Aija Kalnaja described the Standing Corps as a living example of ‘unity in diversity, strength in solidarity.’ Officers from different cultures, languages, and backgrounds come together to serve a common purpose: protecting shared borders and contributing to a safer, more inclusive community for all.
After their induction, the new officers will complete role-specific training before deployment. They will join more than 2,700 colleagues already on duty, further strengthening the EU’s capacity to respond consistently and professionally wherever support is needed.
In Narva, on the EU’s eastern external border, Frontex and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board met with Member of the European Parliament Lena Düpont and other partners to review cooperation and look ahead.
The discussions centred on staying one step ahead of emerging challenges, developing capabilities that match real operational needs, and investing in partnerships that deliver under pressure. The conclusion was that cooperation between Frontex and the Estonian authorities is grounded in trust and a shared understanding of what is needed on the ground. Frontex officers are ready, and the EU’s eastern border is protected because, as the partners agreed, we truly are stronger together.
In Algeciras, Almería, Cartagena, Motril, and Granada, Frontex was honoured to join the Policía Nacional in celebrating Spain’s Día de la Policía Nacional. The annual event commemorates the ‘Ángeles Custodios,’ patron saints of the Spanish National Police, symbolising their protective and supportive role in society.
For Frontex, taking part was a way to pay tribute to our Spanish colleagues and to highlight a shared commitment to public safety and border security. Standing alongside the Policía Nacional on this symbolic day underscored a simple truth: our capacity to safeguard Europe’s borders is built on strong, enduring partnerships with national security services.
On the island of Kos, cooperation is visible every day at the Reception and Identification Centre in Pyli, where Frontex teams continue to support Greek authorities. Officers assist with debriefing, fingerprinting, and cultural mediation, helping to ensure that procedures are carried out efficiently and that people understand what is happening at each step.
Recently, Members of the European Parliament Birgit Sippel and Cecilia Strada visited the Centre to gain a first-hand understanding of operations and of Frontex’s supporting role. They met the Centre’s Director, Frontex Commander on the ground, Frontex Liaison Officer, a Fundamental Rights Monitor, and representatives of the organisation Equal Rights Beyond Borders.
Discussions covered current operational challenges and achievements, the contribution of Frontex to national efforts, how screening helps establish nationality accurately, and how fundamental rights safeguards are implemented in daily practice. The visit also looked ahead to preparations for implementing the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in 2026. The atmosphere was one of transparency and constructive dialogue. These two ingredients are essential for better outcomes for everyone at the border.
From Sarajevo’s new operation to winter patrols in Montenegro, from test runs of the EU’s screening rules on Lampedusa to digital-twin concepts in the Copernicus programme, October was about turning preparation into protection. Training became readiness, technology became a life-saving instrument, and dialogue became concrete, operational cooperation.
Through every story runs the same thread: European borders managed together, anchored in EU law, cooperation, and fundamental rights. As we move forward, we continue to do what works: prepare thoroughly, cooperate closely, innovate bravely, and act decisively, always with people at the centre of our mission.