EU’S coast police ‘endangering migrant lives’
EU coastal authorities have been accused of breaking human rights laws in an attempt to stop migrant boats landing in Europe.
Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, is under fire for not stopping “pushbacks”, which illegally move boats out of European waters.
A new report, by the Euro-mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, details actions it claims Frontex has been involved in or failed to stop.
Drtanya Newbury-smith, a British trustee of the group, said: “The practice of pushbacks, called ‘Greek water polo’ in the Aegean, is not only illegal under human rights and international maritime laws but endangers the lives of vulnerable men, women, and children.
“It is only compounded by reports that before being pushed back into non-eu waters, some of the vessels have been intentionally disabled by removal of their engines or fuel.”