Real-time satellite data, drones and artificial intelligence systems are increasingly utilized to defend the external borders of the European Union. Frontex develops border monitoring and surveillance technologies and prepares the implementation of fresh digital border traffic management systems specified as EES and ETIAS. According to the agency's data for the first 4th of 2026, the number of illegal border crossings in the EU fell by 39% over the year.
– Satellite technologies are utilized by Frontex to a large extent. We have a peculiar EUROSUR program that helps map all corner of the border and transmit satellite data to our officers. All these maps are transmitted in real time, so we can operate in good time – emphasises in an interview with Newseria Anna Skibińska, an officer of the Permanent Corps at the European Border and Coast defender Agency Frontex.
The "Earth reflection for Border Management" study by Frontex published in late 2025 shows that Earth reflection technologies are increasingly crucial for protecting EU borders. The Agency shall indicate that Copernicus satellite data may support the detection of illegal border crossings, monitor migration routes, search and rescue activities and identify cross-border crime activities. Automatic image analysis and systems utilizing artificial intelligence to detect threats besides play an increasingly crucial role.
"We have quite a few technologies that enable us to defend the borders of the European Union. We usage MSS cars, among others, which let us to observe the most endangered sections of the border at night. We have drones, helicopters and quite a few equipment that allows us to decently safe EU borders – convinces Anna Skibińska.
Frontex is constantly analysing the border technology market, including camera, radar and optical sensors systems. Last year, the agency besides began piloting the usage of long-range tactical drones to observe the EU's external borders. Parallelly, it develops projects of the alleged digital border twin, i.e. a strategy integrating satellite data, sensors and real-time simulations, which are designed to support prior detection of threats and faster consequence of border services.
– We are trying to usage the latest technologies, for example the artificial intelligence we implement in Frontex's actions. This is the most urgent task in our agency. - This is Officer Frontex.
The European Border and Coast defender Agency is besides preparing to work with fresh digital EU border management systems, including the Entry/Exit strategy (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation strategy (ETIAS). They are intended to automatically registry border traffic and to exchange data faster between EU services. The EES has been full operational since April, and will yet evidence data on the entries and departures of third-country nationals crossing the Schengen external borders, replacing conventional stamps in digital passports with registration of border crossings. ETIAS, a fresh travel licence for visa-exempt travellers, allowing entry into 30 European countries, is to be launched in the 4th fourth of this year.
The European Commission assumes that the systems will reduce the time of border checks, reduce the scale of falsification of papers and facilitate the detection of persons exceeding the permitted time of residence in the Schengen area.
According to Frontex data, in the first 4th of 2026 there were somewhat more than 21.4 000 cases of irregular crossing of the borders of the European Union, 39% little than a year earlier. The most active migration way remained in the east Mediterranean direction, with the number of border crossings detected there increased by 11% y/y. In turn, the largest drop in the number of crossings was recorded on the Western Balkan and Western African routes.
– The boundaries are tight, but there are always cases of overruns or attempts to exceed them. However, by far all the technologies we usage are conducive to the safety of the European Union being adequately secured – this is Anna Skibińska.
