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Thank you very much.

I can now open the floor to questions.

A couple of points before that,

I'm aware that I understand that there's one issue with one document that is still that we still couldn't publish yet.

Colleagues are working at full speed to get this with you, so one of the actual document texts.

The press material is now with all of you.

Now, before you, before you ask your questions, as always, please, mention your name and the media you represent, and then also, just for everyone to know,

there will be a technical briefing directly after this press conference,

so any question that goes more into the technical details, please also ask it there. I'm starting in the room, Vincenzo.

Good afternoon, Vincenzo Genovese from Euronews, is not that technical to Commissioner Brunner.

This quick response force should be activated at the member state's request or could be activated without the call of, of the,

of the member state and a little bit more philosophical one,

you keep saying that, mm, the irregular arrivals are decreasing, the returns are increasing.

And the management of migration is going better in the European Union,

so my question is why the EU needs more money and why are we putting more taxpayers' money into border controls in these years. Thank you very much.

Yeah, first of all, to, to the first, part of your question, yes, it, it will stay, at the member states' request, definitely, that's a, that's a clear answer,

we won't change that, that approach, so only if member states, member states ask for it,

but it, it can be, of course, much quicker, as I said, as I said before.

The second point, as I said, we, the numbers are going down, which is, which is very positive, but we are not there where we want to be.

When it comes to returns, for instance, I was mentioning, we, we have a return rate of 32, 33% now.

This is not enough, and of course we have to improve, the numbers there, as well,

but also when it comes to fighting illegal migration, of course we have new routes, as I said before, new challenges, coming up.

The, the, the most challenging route we see at the moment is Is that the eastern corridor coming from Bangladesh,

Pakistan, via the Gulf countries, and, Egypt to Libya and from Libya to the European Union.

So what I want to say is we really have to be agile, we have to be careful, we have to we have to sort of, also,

think about how we can develop, our, our rules, and that's why a strong Frontex,

a strong border management, will be even more important, in the future. Gabriel. Thank you, Gabriele Rosana, the Italian newspaper Aveera.

Commissioner, you mentioned the fact that, with the reform Frontex we'll be able to conduct deportations from third countries to third countries, so I'd like to know, and, and you mentioned agreements for that,

so I would like to know who will materially conclude these agreements, according to what procedure,

who will scrutinize them, and if there is judicial review for them. Thank you very much.

Yeah, well, first of all, when it comes to, to returns from third countries to third countries,

yes, this is a, a possibility to support third countries.

This is also in the interest of course, of the, of the European Union, because then, and of the people,

because, people, you know, On their way to the European Union and sometimes lose their life.

It's a very challenging, a very dangerous journey, so we have to stop those people as early as possible,

also in the interest of the people to to save lives.

The status agreement will be done by the European Union.

The Commission negotiates and the Council, of course, as it is always, decides at the end of. Part. Yes, please stay in the middle.

Thank you very much, Viborovlajic, Croatian Radio Television. A question, I guess for Commissioner Brunner.

You mentioned strengthening Frontex in all spheres, especially in the field.

So, about the Frontex presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is a neighboring third country.

Neighbouring to Croatia,

can we expect Frontex to become stronger in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to have its command on that territory and not the command for Bosnia and Hungary? Thank you.

I didn't get the second part, but the, the first part, totally understood.

Second, maybe we have to talk later, but on the first part, yeah, I, I was there at the border, actually, at the Bosnian, Croatian border,

and saw firsthand how actually what, what the, the good work of Frontex is,

is actually doing at the border, and, and it works very, very well.

The cooperation between Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina is, is really a good one.

Because of Frontex also, well, not mainly, but because also Frontex is playing a very important role.

So, yes, but this is already possible, as we've seen in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it will be possible,

of course, in future, it can be even stronger, of course, the cooperation, there.

I didn't quite get the, the second part of the question. How independent.

Well, well, it's, it's always, as I said before, it's always a member state who has to ask, if, if it's in, in, on European soil,

European Union soil, of course, a member state always has to ask for, for,

to deploy, Frontex, this, this won't change in the future, as I said.

We go for one question online and then I come back to you in the room.

I see, many hands up, there still, Elisa, please. Hi, thank you for the briefing.

I have 2 questions on social media monitoring.

My first question is, you say that Frontex will become a trusted flagger.

Will they sidestep the process of applying to a national DSA for doing so?

And secondly, more broadly,

the whole idea of the DSA is to not have the EU policing individual content in individual member states.

Doesn't giving Frontex an EU agency the powers to do so somewhat contradict that purpose? Thank you. Yes, thank you very much.

We are fully operating under our Digital Services Act, and then we have a clear application for the online platforms that,

they have to have practices in place that how they are making sure that they are not spreading disinformation,

and that's why we wanna also strengthen, Frontex role here.

So we are proposing here that Frontex should seek a designation as a trusted flagger.

So under DSA we have so called possibility.

For trusted flaggers and it means that when trusted flaggers when they are notifying something online platforms,

they have to handle this as a priority.

So of course it's still it's a digital service coordinator who should designate Frontex to have that kind of role,

but we see that Frontex is that kind of organization with special expertise who could be designated as a trusted flagger,

and then it means that if Frontex is flagging that kind of content.

Clearly, disinformation, then online services, they should, prioritize that and and look at that.

And for that we are also now setting up in Frontex that kind of center for, online monitoring and and response, who, who is going to do that work,

so monitoring the online environment also because we we know that often that kind of illegal border crossings,

they are based on that kind of disinformation campaigns or organized.

Campaigns outside of the European Union, so it's very important that we have better offline and also online situational awareness, and that's why we are establishing this center to Frontex to be able to monitor also the online environment,

and we also propose that Frontex should have a role as a trustee flagger to really notice this content for online platforms and after that online platforms are taking their actions and also.

Frontex could make requests for competent authorities in the Member States to issue orders to platforms to provide information to act against illegal content, so we are speaking about working fully in the framework of the Digital Services Act,

but also to be better prepared also from Frontex side when there's that kind of organized misinformation,

disinformation campaigns which are related to, for example, to illegal border crossings. David, please. Thank you David Carretta Radio Radical Italian Radio. Two questions. The first one, I didn't.

Read the exact legal text, but in the question and answer you,

you're saying that you will change rules on how Frontex is monitoring and collect and report violation of fundamental rights. Will Frontex stop this activity?

When violations are committed by member states' authorities.

With which Frontex cooperating in, in, in, its operations. The second question is more political.

Commissioner Brunner, you are keeping saying that my freedom, your freedom is threatened by migration. So this. Proposal is to uphold our freedom. I'm quoting you.

You said that this proposal is to keep. The Europeans safe. Can you explain me?

Apart from the rhetoric of the far right with data figures.

Facts In which cases migration, even irregular one,

irregular, not illegal because this is irregular. Are threatening my safety and my freedom.

It's predict Of course, if Yes, yes, thank you.

I can,

I can start with the fundamental rights because the fundamental rights framework in Frontex is among the strongest in any EU agencies.

And that will stay with this review, but now the pact of migration and asylum, it has changed the way that fundamental rights are monitored now by the Member States,

because they have to now run independent monitoring at the external borders,

so according to our new migration and asylum.

And it means that the Agency's role also needs to be updated here, because our aim is very clear responsibilities and no duplication here,

so that the system works better also in practice, not just on paper.

So we are updating the Office for the new legal framework, not weakening it here when it comes to fundamental rights.

Yeah, maybe just 11 sentence on the, on the fundamental rights and, and Frontex because we, we just to make it clear, Frontex has the strongest fundamental rights safeguards of all the agencies in Europe,

just to make that, that point, clear, I'm not aware of any other border management,

authority with stronger protection, any, anywhere in the world, I would actually say. And we're not changing that. So, this is, this is pretty clear.

On the, on the security part, I think also to make that clear, security is the basis for everything we have in the European Union,

for freedom, for democracy, so this is for, for this,

we need a stronger border protection, of course, also.

And just remember, 10 years ago when you were talking about the, the far right and the fueling of the far right, 1012 years ago we did take a lot of responsibility in the European Union,

but the problem was that we didn't have rules, we didn't have a system,

and we didn't have control over what is happening in the European Union.

And after years and years, fortunately, of discussions,

the member states agreed on this common European system, which is a great thing.

For the first time we have a common European approach because one member state, of course, can't deal with with this issue of illegal migration, and I stick to that word by,

by themselves, because there was a lot of pressure on all the systems, on the security systems, and that that was fueling the far right.

And that's why we want to get the control back and with all the reforms we're doing,

we get the control back and that's why we always stress that the numbers are going down.

This is what the people expect from us, and that's what we deliver. Thank you very much.

Thank you Rafael Correa with the Swiss news agency. I have two questions for you, Mr.

Brunner, Commissioner Brunner, on the, you said you want to make the EU the central actor on returns.

I would like to know, would this also be on request from the member state?

And, the second question, my understanding of the return,

issues is that third countries don't take the, the, this.

The people back and it's not an issue of lack of personnel in,

in Europe, so why, I mean, how should this help just having more people? Thank you.

Well, we need both, of course, that's why migration diplomacy is so important.

Of course we have to get engaged more with third countries,

definitely to to also use our leverage we have as a European Union, that's trade, that's visa policy. That's a development policy.

Yes, we have to use our leverage better and discuss with third countries how we can together tackle the human traffickers and the smugglers, and that's why we are focusing so much on, on this Eastern corridor project, for instance,

to Bring together all the countries along the route along the most dangerous and most challenging route, as I said before,

coming from Bangladesh, Pakistan, via the Gulf countries, Egypt to Libya and then to the European Union.

Bring together all these countries in order to prevent people from this dangerous journey where they sometimes,

unfortunately too often.

Lose their lives and that's what we want to prevent together and to cut the business of the smugglers and the human traffickers and that's why we have to work together more closely with third countries as well.

But one thing we shouldn't leave one thing away.

And not doing the other things, so both of course are important.

Migration diplomacy is important, cooperation with third countries, and then bringing our European house in order, which we did with all the reforms,

and now the next step is a stronger Frontex mandate to support the member states. Thanks very much.

I'm going back, a little bit online and Annabelle, please. Hi, can you hear me? Yes, yes, we can hear you. OK, perfect.

I have a question for Commissioner Brunner regarding the budget. That's actually a follow up question.

Maybe you can explain better why you think that doubling the budget is necessary for Frontex when we see that in past years,

especially in 23 and 24, Frontex was not using.

The full budget and yeah, I could not spend, I think 43,

45% of it regarding to the European Court of Auditors. Thank you.

Well, the member states are asking us to improve the mandate for Frontex in order to be better prepared to support them.

This is actually a member states task which we deliver with this with this new mandate.

And when it comes to the next MFF and the budgets,

that's of course the member states, the Council to agree on.

What we, what we sort of suggested, both on the mandate but also financially, of course, actually reflects what the member states asked us to to do and what we do with the mandate, we, we make it more effective,

more flexible also, so there are new tools and also when it comes to returns,

that's also one point where the member states asked us to do,

to do more and what we deliver with the new mandate.

One more question online before I go back to the room. Pillar, please. We cannot hear you. Maybe look at your mic.

No, it's still not working, so we will try maybe later, and I go back to the room, Nikolaj. Yeah. Hello.

Yes, Nikolaj Nielsen, the observer, I have two questions.

Could you maybe tell us which member states have actually deployed an independent monitor since the pact was, was launched this past June?

And for Brunner, Yeah, who's given our orders, basically. Thanks. Thank you very much.

I think on your first question on the figures, I'm not sure we have them at hand here.

We can come back to you, and maybe that's also something for the technical briefing.

And what was the second and the second question.

Whenever Frontex carries out a return on behalf of a third country,

a third country to third country, who's in charge? Is it Frontex or the third country? Who's giving the orders? It's under whose authority?

Correct, that, that's, that's a question of the, agreement, that's what I,

I was mentioning before that, that is sort of stated in the, in the agreement.

We go to the other side of the room, Alexandra.

Thank you for the opportunity, Commissioner Brunner Alexandra Boodui with Cathy Mercier.

Two questions if I may, on the quick reaction force,

how will this complement the separate European emergency response framework expected by the end of the year?

Will that framework also provide additional legal tools for Member States?

Secondly, if you could allow a follow up to my colleague's question, if there are violations by national border guards involved in Frontex operations,

will the Fundamental Rights Office of Frontex investigate these violations or will Member States? Thank you so much.

Yeah, yeah, on the first question, of course, it, it will, it has to complement, the emergency response framework, definitely, but to be honest,

now we're delivering the Frontex mandate, and the, the second step will be the emergency response framework,

but of course they will have to complement, each other.

But what is going to be in the emergency response framework. We are not there yet.

That's what we deliver later this year, but yes, of course, they have to compliment, each, each other.

The, the fundamental rights, issue or question,

the fundamental rights officers of Frontex will, report to national authorities.

About, about, well, if there are possible infringements, they will report to the national authorities,

and then it's up to the national authorities, of course, to, to, to go the further, do the further steps. Thanks very much.

We have almost exhausted, the time for today.

I have time for two more questions, please. Yes, please.

Good afternoon Celine from the French daily Lacroix and Le Bid. Thank you for this press conference.

As the European Court of Auditors has shown that there are many vacancies at Frontex,

and the Commission itself has questioned the attractiveness of the agency in a report of its own.

So, well, what makes the perspective of working for Frontex so unattractive today? Unattractive. It's not unattractive. I would say it's not unattractive. I got it correctly.

It is Frontex is doing a lot, but of course we can improve, and that's why we are delivering this Frontex mandate, the new mandate after, I think the last one was 10 years ago,

sorry, 19, 2019, OK, so that was the last, Frontex, update, mandate update,

and now we have the new one because the challenging, the challenges are. Are different.

The, there's much more demand also for Frontex's support, by the member states.

So we hear that from the member states, every time we, we meet them, and we do meet them a lot, and we hear that, we hear that every time.

So, the, the, the challenges have changed, as I said before, there are hybrid threats, there are instrumentalization of migration,

there are other, challenges, and that's why we have to react as quick as possible.

To some, events also that that happened, that's what the member states ask us to do,

and again that's why we're doing it and why we are delivering. Thanks very much.

One, last question there in the middle, please, yes.

Mr Lisa O'Carroll from The Guardian,

it is just in relation to the Q&A where you say the proposal introduces the possibility for Frontex to carry out returns from non-EU countries to other non-EU. EU countries.

I know you've said that it would depend on the deal with the country, but obviously this has been thought about at high level,

so can you just give us an idea of what the vision is, say, for example, in Libya or Tunisia, would Frontex staff be there? How would that work? My second question is about the UK.

There are obviously dangers to human life on that Channel crossing that has become very popular and a big magnet for migrants to go to the UK.

Is there any element of this that will address the issue in Calais?

Well, the, the channel, maybe the general question, first, because I was just in, I was in, in the UK last, last week or two weeks ago,

the, the, the good thing is that the positive message also there is that the numbers are going down, illegal crossings, in, in the Channel.

We have, an action plan on the Channel, as you, as you might know, which works quite, quite well, and we all, which also tackles, this, our migration diplomacy, instruments because,

also there, the UK has some advantages also when it comes to, to diplomacy,

so we use that advantage, as well, and that's what we discussed with our, UK, UK counterparts.

The, the first, part was, what was it that.

Well, that's, that's also part of the, as I said, that's part of the agreement.

There has to be an agreement, before, of course, and, and,

so we don't know, which countries then will have the, the agreement. Thank you very much. With this we close today's press conference.

You know you can ask more questions, more technical questions now in the following technical briefing,

but for now we thank very much the EPP and the Commissioner, thanks.