The European Commission will again address the issue of sea rescues and coordination with the Libyan coastguard on 7 May at a new Frontex management board meeting to provide “clarity” over the various cases of pushbacks at sea and the respective roles in sea rescue, according to Commission spokesperson Adalbert Jahnz on Friday 30 April.
He was reacting to a recent investigation by Der Spiegel on 29 April, according to which Frontex is coordinating with the Libyan coastguard, giving them instructions to intercept and turn back migrant boats, including those in distress.
“The Commission will certainly raise the issue of rescuing vessels in distress in this part of the Mediterranean to ensure that the matter is fully investigated”, commented the spokesperson. However, he stressed that, with regard to the instructions given by Frontex, “to inform a region’s coordination centre, where obligations under the law of the sea apply, is not illegal, as long as those vessels in distress are in Libyan maritime space”, adding that “in general, saving the lives of passengers aboard ships in distress is a priority”.
On 7 May, the Commission will also support the request for the creation of “a permanent task force (...) to address operational, governmental and fundamental rights issues”.
The spokesperson nevertheless said that “the fact that the agency is informing all sea rescue coordination centres in the region to ensure that assistance is provided as quickly as possible (when a vessel in distress is spotted) is in no way new or surprising information”.
It should be noted that Frontex finally hired a new full-time officer dedicated to fundamental rights on 29 April in Jonas Grimheden. However, it has yet to fulfil its commitment towards hiring 40 staff dedicated to Fundamental Rights, which should have been achieved by the end of 2020. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)