EU border agency Frontex ‘covered up illegal migrant pushbacks’

Senior workers at EU border company Frontex had been concerned in overlaying up the unlawful pushbacks of migrants from Greece to Turkey in violation of their “basic rights”, a report has concluded.

The report — from OLAF, the EU’s anti-fraud watchdog — stated high managers dedicated “severe misconduct and different irregularities” in overlaying up pushback incidents, not investigating them or dealing with them appropriately. Names throughout the report had been redacted.

“In doing so, they hindered the capability of Frontex to completely adjust to its obligations, particularly guaranteeing the safety and promotion of basic rights,” the report learn.

Frontex coordinates search-and-rescue and border interception operations on behalf of the 27 EU nations.

Pushbacks, the forcible return of individuals throughout a global border with out an evaluation of their rights to use for asylum or different safety, violate each worldwide and EU regulation.

OLAF investigators poured over data from open sources and media stories, sought paperwork from Frontex and the European Fee and interviewed 20 witnesses to research accusations of potential involvement or overlaying up of unlawful pushbacks and accusations of misconduct or irregularities.

The report particulars how pushback accusations, which embody stories of migrants being put in life rafts and left adrift at sea and proof of them being mishandled, and infrequently not reported or not investigated based on Frontex’s personal guidelines.

In April, Fabrice Leggeri resigned as the pinnacle of Frontex after stories of misconduct and human rights violations towards migrants.

Worry of reprisals

Frontex officers might also have didn’t report alleged pushbacks on account of concern of repercussions from Greece, the report stated. 

In a single case, the report stated the EU border company’s surveillance airplane flew away from the scene of an alleged pushback “to keep away from witnessing incidents within the Aegean Sea”.

Nonetheless, on August 5, 2020, a member of Frontex reported his considerations in an electronic mail after a Frontex airplane witnessed Greek authorities forcing a flimsy migrant boat again into Turkish waters.

EU investigators additionally stated Frontex shared incorrect or biased data with EU establishments, together with members of the European Fee and Parliament, who’re liable for holding the company accountable, in addition to OLAF investigators.

“I welcome that the OLAF report is lastly public, because it ought to have been from the very starting,” stated Cornelia Ernst, an MEP from the European Parliament’s Left grouping, who confirmed the report’s authenticity.

“It once more proves black on white what we have now been saying for a few years: Frontex is systematically concerned in human rights violations and their coverup on the EU’s exterior borders.” 

Different lawmakers had been much less essential.

“There was misconduct throughout the company regarding three folks,” stated Lena Düpont, a lawmaker with the European Folks’s Social gathering.

“The best way the company was structured by them was not useful, the best way they handled the allegations was additionally not useful.”

The OLAF report raises questions on how Frontex will proceed working in Greece.

How has Frontex responded?

“These had been practices of the previous,” the company stated in an announcement to Euronews. “As a method of systematically addressing shortcomings, the Company and its Administration Board have agreed to take a variety of remedial measures, addressing amongst others the above-mentioned findings.

“The Company takes the findings of investigations, audits and different types of scrutiny critically and makes use of them as alternatives to make modifications for the higher. 

“It’s dedicated to delivering a well-functioning and legally compliant Company that adheres to the perfect practices of excellent governance. In troubled occasions because the as soon as Europe and its neighbours are dealing with proper now, that is extra vital than ever.”