Der Spiegel: Secret Report Proves Frontex Hide Pushbacks
The European Border and Coast Guard Frontex was fully aware of systematic pushbacks of boat migrants by the Greek Coast Guard, but looked the other way and lied about the unauthorized crackdown on the European Parliament. That writes Der Spiegel, which holds the secret investigative report of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) on the matter. The German magazine calls for the report to be disclosed, because it concerns violations of human rights and Frontex is also financed with European taxpayers’ money.
In the 129-page report from February, Frontex officials say the Greek coast guard has seriously endangered the lives of boat migrants and refugees by pushing their often rickety boats back to Turkish waters, known as pushbacks. This pushed them out of the European Union, where they hoped to apply for asylum. Frontex employees are said to have increasingly failed to officially report such “incidents”. Frontex is said to have withdrawn at certain times “not to witness”, Der Spiegel quoted the report as saying.
Following the OLAF report, then-director Fabrice Leggeri resigned in April. In this way he escaped a disciplinary case. The European Commission says it is in constant contact with Greece. “All of these allegations must be investigated, and there must be robust oversight,” said a spokeswoman.