Frontex investigated by European Anti-Fraud Office
EU’s border agency under scrutiny in connection with alleged abuse of migrants at the European border.
By Marc Allen, Maritime Direct UK.
Politico reports that The European Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF, is probing reports of the abuse of migrants by the European border force, Frontex. In a statement, the agency said: “OLAF can confirm that it has opened an investigation concerning Frontex… The fact that OLAF is conducting an investigation does not mean that the persons/entities involved have committed an irregularity/fraud.”
Frontex says it is cooperating with the investigation fully and said that OLAF’s inquiries are part of “normal practices of good governance.” Frontex has been criticised by some members of the European Parliament over a series of incidents at the Greek maritime border last year and media investigations have alleged that a Frontex unit may have been involved in at least one attempt to block migrant boats by forceful ‘push back’.
Emilly O’Reilly, The European Ombudsman, has opened a separate inquiry into how Frontex deals with complaints concerning breaches of fundamental human rights, focussing on Frontex’s complaints mechanism and the independence and objectivity of its staff.
