The European Union’s border agency, Frontex, has significantly ramped up its use of drones as part of a broader push to tighten control over the bloc’s external borders, with recent tenders amounting to nearly €400 million.
This move comes amid growing pressure from EU member states for the European Commission to reinforce border security and prevent irregular migration.
Frontex’s latest wave of investment includes a €184 million call for maritime surveillance drones, €19 million for night vision surveillance equipment, and €186.5 million for information and communication technology services, as well as a €3 million pilot project for drones monitoring land borders in cooperation with Bulgaria.
The total expenditure reflects a robust commitment to deploying advanced technologies for border control, as the EU intensifies efforts to externalise migration management and prevent irregular migrants from reaching European shores.
Heightened Focus on Border Security
The EU’s border strategy has evolved significantly over the past decade. Member states have increasingly called for stronger border controls to address the migration challenges faced by southern European countries. In response, Frontex has expanded its operational capabilities, including the use of drones for surveillance, particularly along the EU’s external maritime borders in Italy, Malta, and Greece.
Drones were first integrated into Frontex operations in 2018, contributing to the detection of nearly 5,000 individuals at sea in that year alone. Their use was further formalised in 2019 when the mandate of the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) was broadened to include drones in its air surveillance framework. Since then, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles has become a central element of the EU’s border control strategy.
In 2020, Frontex awarded contracts worth €100 million to Airbus and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the deployment of Heron drones, capable of extended flights exceeding 30 hours. These drones have been instrumental in monitoring the Mediterranean Sea, including during the 2023 Messenia migrant boat disaster, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 650 people.
Controversy Surrounding Drone Use
Frontex’s use of drones has not been without controversy. In 2022, reports emerged that intelligence gathered by Frontex drones, operated out of Malta, was being used by Libyan authorities to intercept migrant boats in the Mediterranean, resulting in the forced return of thousands of individuals to Libya, a country with a troubling record of human rights violations. A Human Rights Watch report concluded that in 2021, some 10,000 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya, many of them as a direct result of data provided by EU surveillance aircraft.
The allegations raised concerns about the role of Frontex in what critics have termed “pushback” operations, where migrants are prevented from entering EU territory without being given the opportunity to seek asylum. These operations have drawn widespread criticism from human rights organisations, who argue that they violate international law and exacerbate the risks faced by vulnerable individuals attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
Despite these concerns, Frontex has defended its actions, emphasising its focus on combating human trafficking and preventing loss of life at sea. According to the agency, its surveillance efforts are aimed at detecting vessels in distress and alerting national rescue authorities to ensure timely interventions. However, the agency has refrained from addressing the broader criticisms regarding its cooperation with non-EU countries like Libya.
Expansion of Surveillance Capabilities
The recent tenders indicate that Frontex is committed to expanding its drone capabilities further, with plans to spend €184 million on maritime drones over the next four years. This represents a marked increase in spending compared to previous years, suggesting a shift towards more consistent and large-scale deployments of drones in border surveillance operations.
Frontex’s budget has seen significant growth over the past decade, reflecting the increasing political prioritisation of migration control within the EU. In 2025, the agency’s budget is expected to reach nearly €1 billion, a substantial increase from the €233 million allocated in 2016. This cash infusion is intended to support Frontex’s expanding role, which now includes a broader range of responsibilities, from assisting member states with border management to conducting joint operations with non-EU countries.
According to military analyst Major Rasmus Ross from the Royal Danish Defence College, drones are just one element of a multi-layered approach to border security. While drones provide situational awareness, other technologies and equipment are necessary to create a comprehensive surveillance network capable of responding to a variety of threats.
Broader Implications for Migration Management
The increasing reliance on drones for border surveillance has significant implications for how the EU manages migration. For many experts, this shift towards greater surveillance represents an effort to externalise EU borders, pushing migration controls further into non-EU territories with questionable human rights records, such as Libya and Tunisia. By identifying migrant vessels earlier and further from European shores, Frontex can reduce the need for European coastguards to intervene, potentially leaving the responsibility to non-EU countries with less stringent asylum and human rights protections.
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