Announcements

Does your company provide medical services before and during flights, whether chartered or scheduled? Do you want to contribute to the safe travel of returnees? Are you ready to assist in pre-travel checks, on board and during transfer of the returnees to the authorities of their country of origin?

Join us on 20 March 2024 during our Online Industry Day!

Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, plays an important role in managing the EU's external borders and combating cross-border crime. A key aspect of our mission involves supporting EU Member States and Schengen-associated countries in safe returning of irregular migrants to their countries of origin. This process includes coordinating return operations based on decisions taken by EU country authorities. 

The Online Industry Day is dedicated to enhancing medical services during return flight operations. We want to hear from commercial operators skilled in providing comprehensive medical support before and during flights – both chartered and scheduled. Your expertise can significantly contribute to the safety and well-being of returnees throughout their journey. 

We are particularly interested in the following medical services: 

Medical personnel: 

• Medical Doctors,

• Paramedics,

• Nurses.

Medical supplies and equipment: 

• Provision and transportation of drugs,

• Medical bags,

• Specialised medical devices.

Pre-departure services: 

Medical check-ups and fit-to-fly validations at: 

• Airports of origin (potentially multiple locations based on operational logistics),

• Hub airports (prior to chartered flight departures).

In-flight services: 

• Onboard medical assistance for returnees and operation members. 

Post-flight services: 

• Coordination and support in handing over returnees to local authorities at airports of destination (potentially multiple locations based on operational logistics).

Additional considerations: 

• Mental health support: Provision of mental health support services during pre-departure, in-flight, and at the point of handover. 

• Language and cultural sensitivity: Services should consider the linguistic and cultural diversity of returnees. 

• Emergency medical response: Capability to handle in-flight medical emergencies. 

Industry Days are a platform to interact and engage with experts from the European Border and Coast Guard community. The goal is to create a forum where participants can freely discuss the proposed solutions.  

The Industry Days will be held in an online format which will host engaging presentations and dynamic discussions. Each participating entity will have a 40-minute slot at their disposal; during this time a presentation, Q&A session, and collaborative discussions will be held. All relevant submission to the Industry Days will be invited to register on an interactive digital exhibition platform.

If your organisation is at the forefront of these medical services provision for return operational flights, and you wish to place your service in the spotlight, we invite you to express your interest by filling in our online registration form. The call for expression of interest will be open until 8 March 2024.  Please provide an overview of the medical services for return flights you wish to showcase. 

Attendance to this meeting is by invitation only. More information will be communicated separately to the selected applicants. After the submissions deadline, Frontex will select the most relevant technological solutions. The selection is based on the following criteria: effectiveness, efficiency, innovation and relevance for the European Border and Coast Guard community.

All submissions will be evaluated internally, ensuring alignment with the needs of the European Border and Coast Guard community while guaranteeing fair and transparent treatment of all participants. 

Medical services for return flight solutions must respect the legal limitations resulting from the European Union data protection rules and human rights provisions.