The European Union’s border protection agency announced on Tuesday that it is investigating possible human rights violations by Greece related to undocumented migrants, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The agency, Frontex, is investigating incidents in Greece that took place in 2024, though it has not yet disclosed which incidents in particular are being investigated. The Greek government maintains that it takes active measures to prevent unlawful crossings to its eastern islands, a key entry route into the EU. However, officials deny conducting summary deportations.
In December 2024, Frontex began a new operational command structure in Greece and Cyprus to cover smuggling and illegal immigration by land, air, and sea. The new structure is a collaboration with the Greek government that seeks to enhance the nation’s border security efforts. In February 2024, the Council of Europe urged Greece to protect the human rights of migrants and members of the Roma community after there were reports of migrant pushbacks from Greece. The Council of Europe requested further evaluation of Greece’s handling of asylum seekers, border operations, and the protection of vulnerable populations.
In 2023, Greece came under fire for the shipwreck of illegal migrants off the coast of Pylos. Some accounts attributed the wreck to the Greek Coast Guard, although Greece denies this as intentional. The International Organization for Migration and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) called for further investigation into Greece’s immigration approaches and policies. As a result, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Piraeus Naval Court began conducting a preliminary investigation into the conditions of the shipwreck and potential punishable offenses by members of the coast guard.
As Frontex continues its investigation, the spotlight remains on Greece’s border policies and their alignment with European human rights standards. The findings could have significant implications for how the EU approaches border enforcement and migrant protection moving forward. With international pressure mounting and scrutiny from human rights organizations intensifying, Greece may soon face renewed calls to increase transparency, ensure accountability, and implement reforms aimed at safeguarding the rights of migrants and asylum seekers across its borders.
