(BS) Migration has become one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century for mainland Europe. Hans Leitjens, Executive Director of Frontex, reported on the current figures and challenges regarding migration flows towards Europe at the 27th Police Congress. According to him, the main flow is still across the Mediterranean. The boats used for the crossing are vehicles built for speed that cannot guarantee the safety of their occupants.
Change in the flow of refugees
In the first three months of 2024, the route via the central Mediterranean was used twelve per cent less than in 2023. In contrast, the number of refugees crossing via the West African coast rose sharply. Of the refugees who reached Europe, 420,000 did not receive a residence permit. However, only 90,000 actually returned to their home countries, which means that over 300,000 people remained in the EU without a residence permit.
Another challenge is that state actors are instrumentalising migration to destabilise EU states in order to achieve geopolitical goals. This could be observed last year in Finland, Poland, Estonia and Lithuania. Leitjens also cited the European Championships and the Olympic Games as a challenge for border security. These events are substantially threatened by terrorism. In order to meet these challenges, Frontex is currently operating 24 operations with 2,500 EU border control officers. Co-operation with third countries has also been expanded. This includes on the border with Ukraine and in the Western Balkans. This must also be established on a global level.
The Frontex agency has been structurally expanded and a rapid reaction force has been installed. This is essential in order to have officers at the borders and to prevent illegal border crossings and cross-border crime. Society and politicians must be correctly informed about the situation on the ground. Leitjens warned that the need for manpower exceeds resources. You therefore always have to be where you are most urgently needed. It’s all about efficiency.
Thinking long-term
According to the Frontex Executive Director, the temptation to invest the existing budget in current requirements must be resisted. Instead, one should also keep an eye on the future and constantly innovate. In addition, the integration of multinational resources and human and technological resources must always be ensured.
Finally, he appealed for migration to be accepted as a reality. We must find a way to deal with it. No one can face the challenge alone; a solution can only be found together at European level. It was also the task of the actors involved to regain credibility in the institutions with regard to migration management. With regard to the human suffering caused by the current situation, Leitjens emphasised that it was the smugglers who were unscrupulously exposing people in need to the dangers of the Mediterranean. He described their strategy of sending 40 to 50 smaller boats towards the European mainland at the same time as their ‘business model’.
Next year’s European Police Congress will take place from 20 to 21 May. Click here to register.
