Friday

29th Sep 2023

Frontex chief ambivalent on pulling out of Greece

  • Hans Leijtens (l) appeared ambivalent in front of MEPs on Thursday on suspending Frontex operations in Greece due to rights violations (Photo: © European Union 2023 - Source : EP)
Listen to article

The head of the EU's border agency Hans Leijtens is making a case for Frontex to remain in Greece.

His comments on Thursday (6 July) came after Jonas Grimheden, the agency's fundamental rights officer, reportedly recommended operations be suspended.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

"It's an advice from the fundamental officer and of course we take that into account," Leijtens told MEPs in the parliament's civil liberties committee.

But Leijtens said that pulling the agency out of Greece could lead to "serious consequences, also in our ability and capability to save lives."

In public, Grimheden has made the same argument in the past. And Leijtens, during his candidacy grilling by MEPs to lead the agency, claimed he wouldn't hesitate to withdraw operations if needed.

The alternating positions poses questions on the ambivalence of an agency to trigger article 46, which gives Leijtens the power to suspend operations in a country where fundamental rights violations are likely to persist.

But his hesitation also follows numerous egregious allegations of rights abuse by Greek authorities, including video footage of the Greek coast guard allegedly setting people on a raft adrift, including a six-month old baby. And the agency's rights office registered 23 serious incidents reports on Greece last year, more than any other EU state.

It also comes in the wake of the 14 June sinking of the Adriana trawler that has likely drowned over 500 people, a tragedy that continues to demand accountability, amid conflicting accounts of what happened.

The agency had on 13 June spotted the Adriana with a surveillance aircraft from its Italian operation. Running low on fuel, it then returned to base, after having alerted the Greek and Italian authorities about the sighting.

"Then we offered two times to early deploy one of our drones," said Leijtens, noting that the Greeks never responded. He said the closest Frontex operated boat, covering Greek territory, was a full two-day sail from the Adriana.

"So all we could have delivered is situational awareness," he said.

Meanwhile, doubts are being cast on whether the Greek authorities will carry out a proper investigation into the sinking.

Official accounts by the Greek coast guard conflict with the testimonies by those who survived, as do a series of media investigations.

Ylva Johansson, EU migration commissioner, also speaking alongside Leijtens, said such an investigation is needed "not least for the Greek reputation."

The Greek general prosector is only mandated to probe the suspected smugglers behind the shipwreck, while the Greek naval court is investigating the actions of the Greek coast guard, she said.

"We need to trust on the judicial system in member states," said Johansson.

Others are demanding for an international investigation.

"A tragedy repeated is a crime, and this crime, I'm sorry to say, bears political signatures. The EU institutions cannot stand idly by," said Greek Syrzia MEP Kostas Arvanitis.

Similar comments were made by the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency, also on Thursday.

In a report, it said the EU should find ways to apply the transparency and accountability principles laid out in EU rules when investigating migrant shipwrecks.

"The drownings of so many migrants — on average eight every day last year — is a cause of deep shame for Europe," said FRA's director, Michael O'Flaherty, in a statement.

Frontex leadership candidates grilled by MEPs

Terezija Gras from Croatia, Dutchman Hans Leijtens, and Frontex's current interim executive director Aija Kalnaja, are all competing for a job left vacant by the resignation of Fabrice Leggeri.

Frontex set to reduce Greek presence amid abuse probe

The EU's border agency Frontex may shift some of its resources in Greece towards other regions more in demand. Separately, it may also withdraw the use of EU-financed Frontex vessels by Greek authorities in response to alleged abuses.

EU Ombudsman warns of 'new normal' of crisis decision-making

Emily O'Reilly cited the post-pandemic recovery funds, the windfall taxes on energy companies, and the joint purchase of vaccines, as procedures which received limited scrutiny from the national parliaments — as a result of emergency decision-making powers that bypassed parliament.

Latest News

  1. Poland's culture of fear after three years of abortion 'ban'
  2. Time for a reset: EU regional funding needs overhauling
  3. Germany tightens police checks on Czech and Polish border
  4. EU Ombudsman warns of 'new normal' of crisis decision-making
  5. How do you make embarrassing EU documents 'disappear'?
  6. Resurgent Fico hopes for Slovak comeback at Saturday's election
  7. EU and US urge Azerbijan to allow aid access to Armenians
  8. EU warns of Russian 'mass manipulation' as elections loom

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  2. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  3. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  4. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  6. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  2. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  3. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics
  6. EFBWWEFBWW calls for the EC to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us