And although it should be clear after reading the report that the pushbacks were of “serious nature or are likely to persist,” Frontex did not terminate the joint operations as stipulated by Article 46 of the agency’s regulations”. Further, Frontex: “misled the bodies that are responsible for overseeing the agency. It co-financed some of the Greek units that carried out the pushbacks”. The agency suspended its aerial surveillance to stop recording violations of the law. The summary by Der Spiegel reads: “In repeat incidents, Frontex management withheld cases of possible human rights violations from its own fundamental rights officer.
However, a damaging classified report by EU’s anti-fraud watchdog OLAF on the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) released by Der Spiegel on 13 October, reveals severe violations by Greek authorities as well as the agency’s complicity. Progress has been made on the construction of new reception facilities on the Greek islands, with the new centres on Samos, Kos and Leros now established”. This includes financial support and the presence of staff from the Commission and EU Agencies to support Greece in border management, asylum and return procedures, as well as operational planning and coordination. In its communication to the Parliament and Council on migration and asylum published on 6 October, the Commission reveals little concern but emphasizes European solidarity and improvements in Greece: “Over recent years, European solidarity with Greece has been unprecedented. European countries continue to deport refugees to Greece despite the evident risk of destitution and lack of rights. The Greek government’s messaging questioned and inconsistent. While a recent communication by the European Commission focuses on European solidarity and improvements in Greece, the EU watch-dog OLAF and Green MEP’s find severe violations.
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