A high-level delegation from Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, visited Caritas India’s head office on January 30, 2025, marking a significant milestone in their ongoing collaboration for returnee reintegration. The delegation, comprising Mr. Javier Gascon and Mr. Jasper Swanenberg from Frontex, along with Mr. Vlad Cosovan, a member state representative from Romania, aimed to assess Caritas India’s work and explore ways to enhance their joint efforts in supporting voluntary returnees.

Caritas India has been collaborating with Frontex, The European Borden and Coast Guard Agency through Caritas International Belgium since April 2022, facilitating reintegration support to Indian nationals who have voluntarily returned from various European countries. The efforts are focused on providing a dignified and sustainable reintegration process for the returnees, enabling them to rebuild their lives in India.

As of March 2024, Caritas India has supported 284 returnees under the Frontex program, covering individuals from Austria, Romania, Cyprus, Croatia, Poland, Germany, France, Belgium, Finland, Italy, and the Netherlands.

The visit commenced with a comprehensive presentation by Dr. Jaison Varghese, highlighting Caritas India’s work and outreach across the country. Ms. Priyanka Lakra then provided an in-depth presentation detailing the Frontex Project’s scope, objectives, and key outcomes.

The presentations paved the way for interactive discussions, where both teams shared their experiences, challenges, and best practices. The deliberations focused on achievements and successes in supporting returnees and beneficiaries, challenges faced in implementing the RIAT platform, and potential solutions. The teams also explored areas for enhancement and collaboration in future initiatives. This fruitful exchange of ideas enabled both organizations to learn from each other, with a particular focus on ways to simplify support for returnees, ensuring a smoother reintegration process.

The Frontex team expressed appreciation for Caritas India’s commendable work in supporting returnees across India. The visit aimed to simplify support processes and ensure a smoother reintegration for individuals who often find themselves vulnerable after returning from European countries.

The partnership’s primary objective remains providing a supportive and sustainable reintegration process, enabling returnees to rebuild their lives in India with dignity and hope. The Frontex team also made an effort to meet and interact some of the returnees to gather their reintegration experiences.