The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) announced on Tuesday, 27 October, that it was opening an internal inquiry into allegations of refoulement against the agency (see EUROPE 12589/18).
Although it contests the facts, the European agency indicated in a press release that it has launched an internal inquiry “into suspicious incidents recently reported by the media”, adding that, at this stage, “no documents or other materials” have come to substantiate any potential “violations of the Frontex Code of Conduct”.
Several media outlets reported that the agency was involved in pushing back migrant boats in the Aegean Sea in conjunction with the Greek authorities on at least six occasions.
“In our conversation and contacts, I informed EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson that we are looking into the accusations levelled by several news organisations related to our activities at Greece’s external borders. We aim to uphold the highest border guarding standards in all of our operations and do not tolerate any violations of the fundamental rights”, stated Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri.
He then referred to one such incident in early 2020, when he had asked the Greek authorities to “investigate two events [...] in the eastern Aegean Sea”. They “found no proof of any illegal acts in one incident and are still looking into another one”, he added, reiterating that Frontex, not having the power to investigate, must rely on Member States.
The agency revealed that another incident had been reported earlier this year when the crew of one of the Danish vessels deployed by the agency “was given incorrect instructions by the officers of the Hellenic Coast Guard”. “Following the incident, Frontex contacted the Greek authorities, and the misunderstanding was clarified with the Hellenic Coast Guard”, concluded the agency, maintaining that no other suspicious cases have been identified to date. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)