EU border agency covered up Greece’s human rights violations: Report
ANKARA (AA) – The European Union’s anti-fraud office has issued a damning report that has brought to light the EU border agency’s cover-up of illegal pushbacks of migrants by the Greek Coast Guard into Turkish territorial waters.
The report has not yet been made public officially by the EU. However, it has been highlighted by the Germany-based freedom of information website FragDenStaat, Der Spiegel and Lighthouse Reports.
It states how Frontex has been withholding cases of human rights violations from its own officers. It has also been suspending aerial surveillance in order to avoid recording illegal activities and has co-financed Greek units that carried out pushbacks. Frontex has been systematically misleading the authorities responsible for overseeing the agency.
European Commissioner Margaritis Schinas of Greece, whose portfolio includes migration, declined to comment on whether he was informed himself of the allegations.
“The question in the coming years will be whether taxpayer money will continue to be used to help break the law at the EU’s borders — or whether Frontex will be forced to comply with European law,” says the report, according to Der Spiegel.
Frontex has often come under fire for alleged mistreatment of migrants from non-European countries, often endangering their lives. There has been concern about Frontex being actively racist and Islamophobic.
Türkiye and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.
Earlier this year, Frontex head Fabrice Leggeri resigned amid the scandal.
Human rights groups have also documented other human rights violations on EU borders where Frontex operates.
“Frontex has repeatedly failed to take effective action when allegations of human rights violations are brought to its attention,” said Eva Cosse, Western Europe researcher at Human Rights Watch.
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