Although return has long held a special status with specific directives, the issue became increasingly central to European migration policy in the wake of the 2015 refugee crisis. A more comprehensive approach to return has led to an expansion of Frontex’s mandate. Today, the agency serves as a central player in EU cooperation on border and migration issues and is authorized to support member states in their return efforts. Frontex assists throughout the entire process: from preparations and return operations to reintegration in the country of origin. Despite significant financial investments and an expanding portfolio of potential support functions, challenges in enforcing return decisions still remain.
As part of the AMIF-funded Delmi project “Return as International Migration Policy: Coordination Within and Across National Borders”, the third phase of the project is now being launched. This sub-project explores how Swedish authorities utilize Frontex’s resources in the area of return, and how Swedish actors perceive the support and collaboration offered under the Frontex framework. By identifying current forms of cooperation between Frontex and Sweden in the planning and implementation of return efforts, the study aims to highlight best practices and opportunities for improvement in the cooperation between Sweden and Frontex in this area.
The project seeks to answer the following questions:
- What forms of cooperation between Frontex and Sweden can be identified in return operations?
- How and to what extent do Swedish actors use support from Frontex in return operations?
- What is the relationship between Swedish actors and Frontex in the area of return operations? How do Swedish actors perceive this relationship?
