The European Commission stressed on Friday 20 November that it “expects the national authorities to investigate any allegation with a view to establishing the facts and to properly follow up any wrongdoing, if established”. The institution was reacting to the new images concerning refoulement of migrants at the Croatian border, broadcast by Der Spiegel on 18 November (see EUROPE 12605/20).
If these facts are “proven, what is shown is unacceptable; people cannot be beaten at the border; there must be consequences”, reacted Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, according to the statement passed on by her spokesperson’s office.
The Commission, which is the subject of an inquiry by the European Ombudsman into the matter, adds that it is “in close contact with the Croatian authorities regarding these and other reports of violations of fundamental rights”.
A series of online meetings with key stakeholders - Croatian NGOs, UNHCR and IOM as well as the Croatian Ministry of Interior took place on 16 November and a monitoring visit to two border crossings on the Croatian border took place on 17 November.
The country’s authorities “have committed themselves to investigate” and the Commission “is assisting them in this task by financing a monitoring mechanism, implemented by Croatia, involving different stakeholders, such as NGOs and international organisations”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)