At 129 pages, the report documents “how the EU’s border protection agency Frontex was involved in the illegal machinations of the Greek coast guard”, writes “Spiegel”.
A secret EU report accuses EU border protection agency Frontex of deliberately turning a blind eye when refugees are pushed back into the sea by the Greek coast guard. In one case, a Frontex plane was specifically taken out of the Aegean Sea “in order not to become a witness”, according to the report by the anti-fraud agency Olaf, of which the magazine “Spiegel” and the newspaper “Le Monde” published in Thursday’s citation. -fair.
At 129 pages, the report documents “how the EU’s border protection agency Frontex was involved in the illegal machinations of the Greek coast guard”, writes “Spiegel”. According to the report, border guards in the Aegean “systematically dump asylum seekers into the sea without any movement – whether in shaky boats or inflatable lifeboats,” continues Spiegel.
Referring to the Olaf report, it is said that Frontex knew about human rights violations in Greece from the beginning and covered them up. Frontex also concealed the fact that European taxpayers’ money was involved in at least six cases, as the EU co-financed the coastguard vessels involved.
The EU Commission emphasized that it sent 31 human rights monitors to prevent such incidents in the future. “We are also working closely with the Greek authorities,” Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said on Thursday. The protection of the EU’s external border must be done with respect for human rights, underlined Hipper.
Baerbock demands clarification
During a visit to the office of EU border protection agency Frontex in Piraeus on Thursday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) demanded that cases of refusal by people seeking protection be systematically investigated. It is now known that there have been several cases where pushbacks have occurred. European values must also apply to the EU’s external borders and those borders must also have doors, Baerbock demanded. “If we look the other way, our values will perish in the Mediterranean,” she said. barbock. “Often it’s about the weakest.”
According to “Spiegel”, Olaf’s report, which was not intended to be published, is one of the reasons for the dismissal of former Frontex boss Fabrice Leggeri in April. The investigation confirms several media reports about so-called setbacks at the EU’s external borders.
What is meant is the targeted removal of migrants and refugees at sea or secret deportations. These practices are illegal because they prevent these people from applying for asylum. Frontex was founded in 2004 with the enlargement of the EU to the east. Since 2015, the agency’s resources have increased significantly. By 2027, the team is expected to increase even further to 10,000 border guards.
(APA)