On 18 November 2022, Frontex published its Annual Implementation Report for the year 2021. The report provides dashboards, statistics, numbers, and figures on the agency’s work with regard to the pool of forced-return monitors, the contribution of statutory staff to the standing corps, Member States' participation in the standing corps through long-term secondment as well as through short-term deployments, the agency’s acquisition or leasing of technical equipment, and its technical equipment pool (Arts. 51, 55, 56, 57, 58, 63, and 64 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1896). Furthermore, it gives a summary on the implementation of the Rapid Border Intervention conducted upon the request of Lithuania at its external borders in 2021. The last chapter looks at the development of the agency’s own capabilities, where swift changes are needed (i.e. to adapt to an increasing virtual environment), its management of operational capabilities, challenges with regard to the operationalisation of the standing corps and the design and deployment of uniforms, choices to be made regarding equipment with weapons, and how to build a European Equipment Capability. The report describes issues with translation and interpretation, activities undertaken to adapt to future technical needs, and how to "go green" while keeping the agency's performance effective.

In its conclusions, the report underlines that the year 2021 marked the first year of full implementation of Regulation (EU) 2019/1896. Hence, 2021 marks a milestone in the agency’s achievements in terms of developing, planning, and deploying human and technical capabilities, especially in view of the extraordinary circumstances brought about by the outbreak of COVID-19.

For the future, the report emphasizes the need for all European border and coast guard stakeholders to remain flexible in order to stay up to date on the various needs arising from operational activities.