EU border agency accused of turning blind eye as Greece expels migrants
BRUSSELS — Mounting evidence indicates the European Union’s border agency has been complicit in Greece’s illegal practice of sending migrants to Turkey, according to documents obtained by the New York Times and interviews with officials.
In at least one case, Frontex, as the EU border agency is known, is accused of helping cover up the violations.
Crewmembers said agency officials discouraged them from reporting they’d seen Greek authorities setting a boatload of migrants adrift in Turkish waters.
The case, which is being investigated by Frontex, has fueled suspicions that the agency has been playing an active role in concealing such abuses.
The revelation could call into question the bloc’s commitment to upholding its own laws on refugees.
Frontex is the European Union’s best-funded agency, with a budget of over $500 million, and it soon will deploy the first uniformed officers in the bloc’s history.
It has been built up to help in migrant-rescue operations as the burden of policing Europe’s borders has fallen most heavily on its peripheral states, such as Greece.
Yet Frontex isn’t empowered to stop national border guards from committing violations.
The documents obtained by the Times describe a seemingly incessant flow of migrant dinghies between Greek and Turkish waters, with Frontex crews watching on vessels or aircraft.
Four officials with knowledge of Frontex operations confirmed agency officials have been discouraging crews from reporting when migrants are sent away.