Frontex has deployed a new team of standing corps return officers in Vienna to further support the Austrian authorities in implementing assisted voluntary returns.
Four experienced officers are going to cooperate with the experts at the Federal Agency for Reception and Support Services (BBU – Bundesagentur für Betreuungs- und Unterstützungsleistungen) on supporting the transport of non-EU citizens returning voluntarily from different locations in Austria to the departure points in Vienna, like airport or bus and train stations. The standing corps officers will also be able to assist migrants during all airport procedures, such as check-in, security controls, etc.
In the previous months, Frontex has already successfully deployed standing corps officers supporting returns at the Vienna airport and at four other EU airports in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and France.
Voluntary returns are a priority for the Austrian Ministry of the Interior and for Frontex. During the first half of 2022, the agency has assisted Member States in returning more than 11,000 people not entitled to remain in the EU upon decision of the relevant national authorities, out of which over 30% returned on a voluntary basis.
