Frontex 'turned a blind eye' to Greece's refugee pushbacks, shows leaked OLAF report

Rescue of refugees in the Aegean Sea. (Photo: Coast Guard Command via Anadolu Agency)

The European Union's border agency, Frontex, has turned a blind eye to Greece's in pushbacks of refugees to Turkey's territorial waters, Germany's Der Spiegel magazine reported yesterday (July 28).

Findings of an investigation by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) were revealed by Der Spiegel, Le Monde in France, and Lighthouse Reports.

Under the administration of Fabrice Leggeri, who quit in April under pressure from the European Parliament and rights groups, Frontex covered up pushbacks by Greece, and lied to the EU parliament, said the report.

It also revealed that Frontex officers did not report the actions in an attempt to not provoke reactions by Greece even when they became aware or witnessed illegal pushbacks.

"Incidents were not reported through official channels as Frontex deployed staff feared retaliation by Greek authorities," it said.

CLICK - HRW: Greece uses 'refugee auxiliaries' in pushbacks to Turkey

The magazine said the report was "too explosive" so a very limited number of EU officials had read it.

It further claimed that EU Commission's Vice President Margaritis Schinas has acted more for Greece than as the bloc's senior official.

"Schinas is a party friend of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis," it said, adding that he used his influence and developments "as an insider."

The magazine highlighted that Schinas recently claimed that there was no tangible evidence that the Greek Coast Guard was carrying out pushbacks.

Those allegations came from "NGOs, the press, and the authoritarian regime in Ankara," he said. (VK)