MEP Özlem Demirel (The Left) has submitted a parliamentary question to the European Commission demanding detailed data on Frontex's multipurpose aerial surveillance (MAS) missions in the Central Mediterranean, seeking to shed light on the agency's role in migrant interceptions and potential returns to Libya. The question, tabled on 21 July 2026, targets three specific areas: the number of migrant boat sightings and distress alerts issued by Frontex aircraft since 2019; the extent of data-sharing with the Libyan Coast Guard and resulting interceptions; and the volume of alerts sent to search and rescue non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the region.
Demirel requests annual figures for sightings, mayday relays, and written communications with geolocation data sent to Libyan authorities, as well as how many of those sightings led to interception and return to Libya. She also asks for the number of alerts sent to NGOs. The MEP's policy orientation is toward greater transparency and accountability of Frontex operations, particularly regarding cooperation with Libyan authorities, which has been criticised by human rights groups for potentially facilitating pushbacks.
Under European Parliament rules, the Commission typically must reply within six weeks. The answer will signal the Commission's stance on transparency of Frontex data and its willingness to disclose operational details that could affect the agency's accountability and the rights of migrants in the Mediterranean.