With more than 20 years of experience in managing irregular migration, Ionuț serves as Policy Officer at the European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, Unit B3: Return and Readmission, bringing extensive expertise across frontline operations and European policymaking.

He began his career with the Romanian Border Police in 2005. Between 2009 and 2014, he participated in Frontex-coordinated operations at the EU’s external borders in Slovakia, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Greece, and contributed as a trainer to Frontex training programmes for screening experts.

Since joining the European Commission in 2016, his work has focused on developing and implementing EU policies and legislative proposals on irregular migration and return, supporting Member States, and monitoring the correct transposition of EU return legislation. He has participated as a Commission expert in Schengen evaluations covering 20 Member States, contributing to evaluation reports and subsequent recommendations.

His academic background spans law, psychology, human resources management and systemic psychotherapy, complemented by specialist training in screening, Schengen evaluation and European Integrated Border Management.

At FRONTLINERS 2026, Ionuț brings a perspective grounded in both operational experience and EU policy development, connecting the realities faced by border authorities with the coordination and implementation of European responses to irregular migration.

Welcome to FRONTLINERS 2026, Ionuț!