The year 2021 was a game-changer for Frontex and for the European Border and Coast Guard.
More than 2 000 standing corps deployed at EU’s external border and beyond, more than 17 000 people returned with Frontex support, more than 1 000 people smugglers identified.
These are just some of the excellent results Frontex achieved in 2021.
With COVID-19 still ever-present, we managed to post the first standing corps officers to the EU’s external borders, run 19 operations, achieve significant result in combatting cross-border crime and supporting Member States with border management.
The standing corps officers, coming from nearly all European countries, were tested in various countries and under a variety of conditions.
They have worked at Finland’s South-eastern border, responded to the hybrid threats at the Eastern borders, assisted with evacuations from Afghanistan in Georgia and with border management in Cyprus.
The hybrid threat at EU’s eastern frontier and the quick deployment of standing corps officers is proof that the service can support Member States in all types of challenges.
All these achievements go hand-in-hand with increased fundamental rights safeguards.
In 2021, the Agency adopted the Fundamental Rights Strategy, recruited our new Fundamental Rights Officer and Fundamental Rights Monitors who regularly observe our operations.
Read the full report.