European Union Flag EU coast guard Frontex news & updates

[Saithan]

Risk of refoulement and police violence at borders

The European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration visited Greece to discuss the construction of new reception centres. According to the media, she also mentioned that the authorities can do more when it comes to investigating push-back allegations. The CoE Commissioner for Human Rights also urged the authorities to put an end to such operations and ensure that independent and effective investigations are carried out. Push-backs seem to have acquired systematic characteristics and constitute an official state policy, according to 49 civil society organisations. Five of them asked the European Commission to assess Greece’s compliance with procedural requirements attached to the non-refoulement principle and obligations to provide access to asylum.

Concerning the land borders, a report published by the Greek Ombudsperson regarding incidents in the Evros region in Greece concludes that the testimonies share a consistent pattern of accounts and that the alleged push-backs appear to follow a standard practice and involvement of state agencies. The practices include interception by the police after having crossed the border, confiscation of mobile phones and identification documents, handover to unidentified persons in uniforms and being held in an unidentified building without any formal procedures being initiated, followed by transport across the Evros river back to Turkey. A new report by Amnesty International provides additional evidence of torture, ill treatment and push-backs by the Greek authorities.

https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2021-migration-bulletin-2_en.pdf

 

[Saithan]

Asos açıklarında FRONTEX kılıfıyla Yunan Tacizi - Deniz Kartalı

Ege Denizi’nde Türk balıkçı teknelerini taciz etmekten çekinmeyen Yunan askeri güçleri bu kez Midilli Adası ile Edremit körfezi arasındaki Müsellim Geçidi'nden zararsız geçiş hakkını kullanarak ilerleyen bir Türk yelkenlisine çıktı. AB’nin üye ülkelerin sınırlarını korumak için oluşturduğu...

denizkartali.com

Greece using frontex as an excuse to haras Turkish sailors in international waters.

Boarding the vessel and always keeping their hand on he gun

 

[Glass🚬]

Asos açıklarında FRONTEX kılıfıyla Yunan Tacizi - Deniz Kartalı

Ege Denizi’nde Türk balıkçı teknelerini taciz etmekten çekinmeyen Yunan askeri güçleri bu kez Midilli Adası ile Edremit körfezi arasındaki Müsellim Geçidi'nden zararsız geçiş hakkını kullanarak ilerleyen bir Türk yelkenlisine çıktı. AB’nin üye ülkelerin sınırlarını korumak için oluşturduğu...

denizkartali.com

Greece using frontex as an excuse to haras Turkish sailors in international waters.

Boarding the vessel and always keeping their hand on he gun

We should do the same with greek vessels.

 

[Saithan]

EU expects Greece to inspect migrant pushbacks: Commissioner​

BY DAILY SABAH WITH AGENCIES​

ANKARA EU AFFAIRS
OCT 08, 2021 10:04 AM GMT+3

A view of the entrance of the new multi-purpose reception and identification migrant center near the town of Vathy, on the eastern Aegean island of Samos, Greece, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP Photo)


The European Union expects Greece to investigate reports of illegal migrant pushbacks at its border, the bloc’s Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said Friday.

"I must say that the Croatian government takes this very seriously, they are going to immediately investigate," said Johansson while arriving for a meeting of EU interior ministers in Luxembourg.

"My discussion with the Greek minister was different, and I have made clear that I will not accept that Greece (does) not do investigations on this," she added. "We have to protect our external borders, but we also have to protect our values, the rule of law and fundamental rights. And this is absolutely possible to do together."

The EU on Thursday voiced serious concerns over reports of illegal, sometimes violent, migrant pushbacks at the bloc's borders and called for probes in Greece and Croatia.

"Some of these reports are shocking and I'm extremely concerned," she said.

"There seems to be, in (this) case, some kind of orchestration of violence at our external borders, and there seems to be convincing evidence of misuse of (EU) funds," Johansson continued, referring to the fact that authorities of these countries have received significant financial support from the EU for external border management.

The commissioner promised that she would "raise the reports directly" when meeting the Greek Minister for Migration Notis Mitarachi and Croatia's Interior Affairs Minister Davor Bozinovic.

"This needs to be investigated."

Several videos and witness testimonies pointed to Greece.

The country's special coastguard units have allegedly intercepted migrant boats in the Aegean Sea and set them adrift on orange rafts, some paid for with EU cash.

Amnesty International labelled it "alarming" that Brussels "continues to close its eyes to flagrant violations of EU law and even continues to finance police and border operations in some of these countries."

"The (European) Commission strongly opposes any pushback practices and has repeatedly emphasized that any such practices are illegal," Adalbert Jahnz, spokesperson on home affairs and citizenship, said at a news briefing earlier on Thursday.

He called the reports an unacceptable and "very concerning mistreatment of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees," adding that the allegations "must be investigated" particularly in terms of respect for fundamental rights.

Jahnz also explained that the EU executive body "continues to have serious concerns, based on evidence and reports, presented by both the European Parliament and UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)."

He noted that it is beyond the European Commission's power to investigate acts of national authorities, but asserted that it has been helping member states address "reports of unlawful activities and use extended borders."

Turkey has repeatedly condemned Greece's illegal practice of pushing back asylum-seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.

Turkey's five Aegean provinces – Çanakkale, Balıkesir, Izmir, Muğla and Aydın – are prime spots for refugees to leave Turkey for the EU, with Greek islands lying within sight of the Turkish coast.

In recent years, hundreds of thousands have made short but perilous journeys across the Aegean to reach northern and western Europe in search of a better life.

Hundreds of people have died at sea as many boats carrying refugees sank or capsized. The Turkish Coast Guard Command has rescued thousands of others.

Turkey and Greece have been key transit points for migrants looking to cross into Europe, fleeing war and persecution to start new lives.

Turkey has accused Greece of large-scale pushbacks and summary deportations without migrants being given access to asylum procedures, which is a violation of international law. It also accuses the EU of turning a blind eye to this blatant abuse of human rights.

Pushbacks are considered contrary to international refugee protection agreements, which dictate that people should not be expelled or returned to a country where their life and safety might be in danger due to their race, religion, nationality or membership in a social or political group.

In a new report, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) revealed recently that migrants at EU borders still face difficult conditions and violations of rights in detention and reception centers. The report also noted that pushing migrants back to Turkey has become the de facto border policy of Greece and that torture, ill-treatment and pushbacks continue.

EU expects Greece to inspect migrant pushbacks: Commissioner

The European Union expects Greece to investigate reports of illegal migrant pushbacks at its border, the bloc’s Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva...

www.dailysabah.com

 

[Saithan]

Turkish coast guard saves 313 migrants pushed back by Greece​

BY DAILY SABAH​

ANKARA EU AFFAIRS
OCT 12, 2021 8:59 AM GMT+3

Turkish coast guard rescues irregular migrants pushed back by Greece off the coast of Dikili, Izmir, southwestern Turkey, Oct.11, 2021 (DHA Photo)


The Turkish coast guard rescued Monday a total of 313 irregular migrants that had been pushed back by Greece in the Aegean Sea.

The naval force, in the meantime, rescued 213 asylum-seekers near Aydın, Dikili, Foça, Menderes, Çeşme, Urla and Seferihisar districts in Izmir.

Separately, a coast guard team in the seaside town of Marmaris, Muğla in southwestern Turkey, rescued at least 75 asylum-seekers from a rubber boat.

A team was also dispatched off the coast of Bodrum in Muğla province upon receiving information that 25 asylum-seekers were stranded on a lifeboat.

Turkey has repeatedly condemned Greece's illegal practice of pushing back asylum-seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.

Turkey's five Aegean provinces – Çanakkale, Balıkesir, Izmir, Muğla and Aydın – are key spots for refugees to leave Turkey for the EU, with Greek islands lying within sight of the Turkish coast.

In recent years, hundreds of thousands have made short but perilous journeys across the Aegean to reach northern and western Europe in search of a better life.

Hundreds of people have died at sea as many boats carrying refugees sank or capsized. The Turkish Coast Guard Command has rescued thousands of others.

Turkey and Greece have been key transit points for migrants, fleeing war and persecution, looking to cross into Europe to start new lives.

Turkey has accused Greece of large-scale pushbacks and summary deportations without migrants being given access to asylum procedures, which is a violation of international law. It also accuses the EU of turning a blind eye to this blatant abuse of human rights.

Pushbacks are considered contrary to international refugee protection agreements that dictate that people should not be expelled or returned to a country where their life and safety might be in danger due to their race, religion, nationality, or membership in a social or political group.

In a recently published report, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) revealed that migrants at EU borders still face difficult conditions and violations of rights in detention and reception centers.

The report also noted that pushing migrants back to Turkey has become the de facto border policy of Greece and that torture, ill-treatment and pushbacks continue.

Furthermore, Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson last week announced that the EU expects Greece to investigate reports of illegal migrant pushbacks at its border.

“I will not accept that Greece (does) not do investigations on this," she said. "We have to protect our external borders, but we also have to protect our values, the rule of law and fundamental rights. And this is absolutely possible to do together."

Meanwhile, Greece is bolstering security on its border with Turkey by deploying 250 additional guards, the country's protection minister confirmed earlier Sunday.

"We are ready ... and we are further increasing (security) forces by hiring 250 new border guards to support the Greek police," Citizens' Protection Minister Takis Theodorikakos said during a visit to the border area of Kastanies, according to a ministry statement.

Greece has invested in a new anti-migration arsenal, including cameras, radar and a 40-kilometer (25-mile) steel fence over 5 meters (16 feet) high, to cover part of the 200-kilometer border region crossed by the Maritsa (Meriç) River.

The Greek civil aviation authority on Saturday also said a tethered balloon known as an aerostat, equipped with a long-range thermal camera, had been deployed at the Alexandroupolis airport since August to assist border surveillance.

 

[Saithan]

Turkey rescues dozens of asylum seekers pushed back by Greece - Türkiye News

Turkish coast guard units rescued dozens of asylum seekers pushed back by Greek forces late on Nov. 15.

www.hurriyetdailynews.com

 

[Saithan]

Activists rescuing migrants face criminal charges in Greece

Greece's policy against migrants has taken a cruel turn, with the country criminalizing rescue operations with severe punishment. Two dozen...

www.dailysabah.com

 

[Saithan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1462632007675039745

 

[Saithan]

Story of EU interpreter reveals Greek migrant pushbacks toward Turkey​

BY DAILY SABAH​

ISTANBUL DEC 01, 2021 - 3:26 PM GMT+3


Members of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex stand outside the new closed migrant camp on the Greek island of Kos, Nov. 27, 2021. (AFP Photo)

The story of a single man reveals Greece's brutal practices, including pushbacks against irregular migrants, as a European Union interpreter says that Greece expelled him to Turkey in a migrant roundup.

Pushbacks, inhumane practices and violence against migrants that Greece has committed in the name of the "fight against irregular migration" in recent years, have been documented once again. This single case echoes many calls from human rights groups and international organizations that Greek authorities often expel asylum-seekers indiscriminately and violently.

As the New York Times reported Wednesday, Greek border guards mistook the interpreter for an asylum-seeker in September, assaulted him and then forced him across the border into Turkey alongside dozens of migrants.

"His allegation is particularly problematic for Greek officials because he is a legal European Union resident employed by the E.U. border agency, Frontex," the report said underlining that he has turned over evidence to the agency to support his claims of abuse, according to European officials dealing with his case.

While the interpreter filed a complaint with Frontex, European officials confirmed this saying the complaint was being treated as credible because of the man’s position and the documentation he provided, including audio and video recordings.

As the victimized man told the New York Times, "he and many of the migrants he was detained with were beaten and stripped, and that the police seized their phones, money and documents ... He was taken to a remote warehouse where he was kept with at least 100 others, including women and children. They were then put on dinghies and pushed across the Evros (Maritsa also known as Meriç in Turkish) River into Turkish territory."

Ylva Johansson, the European commissioner for migration, said she called the interpreter on Friday to discuss his accusations. “After a direct, in-depth discussion with the person on Nov. 25, I was extremely concerned by his account,” Ms. Johansson said. “In addition to his personal story, his assertion that this was not an isolated case is a serious issue,” she added, saying he told her he had witnessed at least 100 migrants who were pushed over the border and sometimes roughed up.
A Frontex spokesperson said the agency was investigating the report and could not comment further as long as the investigation continues.

The journey of hope of irregular migrants, who set out to start a new life, either ends in the blue waters of the Aegean or turns into a nightmare due to the inhumane practices of Greek coast guard units.

Turkey and Greece have been key transit points for migrants aiming to cross into Europe, fleeing war and persecution to start new lives. Turkey has accused Greece of large-scale pushbacks and summary deportations without migrants being given access to asylum procedures, which is a violation of international law. It also accuses the European Union of turning a blind eye to this blatant abuse of human rights.

Turkey has repeatedly condemned Greece's illegal practice of pushing back asylum-seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.

Turkey's five Aegean provinces – Çanakkale, Balıkesir, Izmir, Muğla and Aydın – are prime spots for refugees leaving Turkey for the EU, with Greek islands lying within sight of the Turkish coast.

In recent years, hundreds of thousands have made short but perilous journeys across the Aegean in a bid to reach northern and western Europe in search of a better life.

Hundreds of people have died at sea as a number of boats carrying refugees sank or capsized. The Turkish Coast Guard Command has rescued thousands of others.
Pushbacks are considered contrary to international refugee protection agreements, which dictate that people should not be expelled or returned to a country where their life and safety might be in danger due to their race, religion, nationality or membership in a social or political group.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis angrily defended Greece's controversial migration policy last month in a heated debate with a reporter who accused him of "narcissistic abuse" during a press conference with his Dutch counterpart in Athens. The reporter echoed the call of many rights groups and organizations urging Athens to stop lying and admit to the systematic policy of "cruel and barbarian pushbacks."

"Prime Minister Mitsotakis, when, at last, will you stop lying? Lying about pushbacks, lying about what is happening with the refugees in Greece?" Dutch journalist Ingeborg Beugel asked following joint statements by Mitsotakis and Mark Rutte.

Beugel was referring to allegations by rights groups and organizations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that Greece is unlawfully pushing migrants and refugees back to Turkey on its land and sea borders.

Mitsotakis, whose center-right New Democracy party came to power in 2019, continued to defend his government's controversial migration policy, calling it "tough but fair," and claimed Greece has been rescuing hundreds of people at sea since 2015 when it was on the front line of Europe's migration crisis.

In a recent report, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) revealed that migrants at the EU borders still face difficult conditions and violations of rights in detention and reception centers. The report also noted that pushing migrants back to Turkey has become the de facto border policy of Greece and that torture, ill-treatment and pushbacks continue.

It is also known that Frontex has been involved in Greek pushbacks against migrants. A joint investigation by several international news outlets reported in October 2020 that Frontex had been complicit in maritime pushback operations to drive away migrants attempting to enter the EU via Greek waters. A month later, Brussels-based news outlet EUobserver revealed that Frontex exchanged letters with Greek authorities about Athens' orders to push back migrants to Turkish waters.

Story of EU interpreter reveals Greek migrant pushbacks toward Turkey

The story of a single man reveals Greece's brutal practices, including pushbacks against irregular migrants, as a European Union interpreter says that...

www.dailysabah.com

Story of EU interpreter reveals Greek migrant pushbacks toward Turkey – AustralianNewsReview

__________________________________

E.U. Interpreter Says Greece Expelled Him to Turkey in Migrant Roundup (Published 2021)

The man’s story echoes complaints from human-rights groups that Greek authorities often expel asylum seekers indiscriminately and violently.

www.nytimes.com

Greek probe into Frontex interpreter expulsion claim | Macau Business

International, MNA | The Greek ombudsman said Wednesday it is investigating a claim by an interpreter for the EU border agency Frontex that Greek border guards assaulted him and illegally expelled him to Turkey.

www.macaubusiness.com

 

[Saithan]

‘They beat us, the women with an iron rod’: Greek pushbacks continue

They beat us with an iron rod and left us at sea with our children, a migrant said, describing the violence by Greek elements upon being rescued by the...

www.dailysabah.com

 

[Saithan]

Greece pushed 889 migrant boats into Turkish waters in 2021

Greece pushed some 889 boats carrying irregular migrants back into Turkish territorial waters in 2021 while 25,668 migrants were rescued by the Turkish...

www.dailysabah.com

That is a lot of boats that TCG has to deal with. I do not think AKP is capable or wants to do anything to stop this from happening. EU is turning a blind eye to these acts, and playing for time.

TCG needs vessels and manpower to counter these acts.

 

[Akritas]

Remark 1
As I see @Saithan bombs this thread with articles in Turkish newspapers, in order to demonize Frontex and Greece. Nowhere does it say that the source of entry of the illegal immigration flow is Turkey.
And what is Turkey doing to stop this flow?
NOTHING.
Turkey uses people as a battering ram and weaponised them, fabricates fake news to mislead them , and systematically violates the sovereignty and sovereign rights of neighboring countries, it is in no position to point fingers at anyone.
Turkey is in no position to lecture anyone on International Law and human rights when is known that has been failing these particular courses for years.
Sum up :The real story is that Turkey has weaponized human lives and is orchestrating a massive wave of trafficked persons to destabilize Greece and the EU.

Remark 2
On 7 June 2021, the Greek government announced its decision to list Turkey as ‘safe third country’ for asylum seekers from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Somalia. With the decision, applicants from one of the specified countries who enter Greece via Turkey will be considered inadmissible based on the assumption that Turkey could offer protection and that the applicant should be returned.
Turkey has declined to take back asylum seekers from Greece because are being weaponized & instrumentalized from the authoritarian Erdogan regime.

Remark 3
It is obvious that the authoritarian Erdogan government is using NGOs to demonize FRONTEX and Greece. It can also be seen from the sources put by @Saithan that are .....Turkish media. Turkey is acting like a "pirate state in the Aegean Sea" in regards to migrants. It pushing forward illegal immigrants in Greece and EU.

Greece says Turkey is pushing migrants into its waters – DW – 11/10/2021

Greek officials claim Turkey is acting like a "pirate state in the Aegean Sea" in regards to migrants. Athens has called on the EU to put pressure on Ankara to meet its international obligations.

www.dw.com

Operation Poseidon (Greece)

Greece: Frontex Denies Involvement in Pushbacks, Expert Council Critique of NGO Registration Rules | European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)

ecre.org

 

[Saithan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1553011548322467841

Frontex report by OLAF

 

[Saithan]

Going to post screenshot in case tweets get deleted

 

[Saithan]

Continued

 

[Saithan]

Classified Report Reveals Full Extent of Frontex Scandal

The EU’s anti-fraud office has found that the European border agency covered up and helped to finance illegal pushbacks of asylum-seekers in Greece. The report, which DER SPIEGEL has obtained, puts pressure on the EU Commission – and could also spell trouble for Frontex's new leadership.

www.spiegel.de

 

[Saithan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1557313533070696448

GCG pushing migrants back into Turkish waters August 9 2022.

 

[Saithan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1570073919293648896

 

[Saithan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1580891472278142976

attaching it as an image you may bever know when it gets erased.

 

[Saithan]

Græsk politi finder 92 nøgne migranter ved tyrkisk grænse

Læs mere her.

www.berlingske.dk

Interesting that naked migrants make headlines. But this time they don’t know why they’re naked and where they came from.

They should be interviewed by 3rd party unrelated to get a clear understanding of who took their clothes.

That said Greece is trying to place the blame on Turkey.