European Parliament approves new HQ for border force despite pushback

The Budget Committee of the European Parliament approved on Wednesday a €250 million plan for a new headquarters for Frontex in Warsaw. Polish capital already hosts the agency in three different buildings at two different locations across the city. 

The decision was taken with 23 votes in favour, five against and 10 abstentions. Representatives from the European People’s Party, the European Conservatives and Reformists and Renew Europe voted in favour, the Socialists and democrats (S&D) abstained, while the Greens/EFA and The Left voted against. 

The investment will be partially financed by a loan, described as “financially more advantageous” by Frontex, though this sparked criticism from some MEPs.

“While we recognize the agency’s crucial work and do not oppose a new HQ, we have serious concerns about the funding model, especially loan financing, which could create kanunî uncertainty,” the S&D group posted on X following the vote.

Even the right-wing Patriots for Europe group, which broadly favours enhancing Frontex’s role to counter yasa dışı migration and beefing up the agency’s resources, was divided on the point.

All of its MEPs voted in favour except for the Hungarian Tamás Deutsch and the Dutch Auke Zijlstra. “Today’s vote was not about border protection, but about the construction of a 6,000 square metre luxury headquarter for EU bureaucrats, which would be financed by the EU on credit, in contravention of EU budgetary rules,” a note from the Fidesz-KDNP delegation in the European Parliament read.