Frontex shows no interest in Crotone reconnaissance

Erik Marquardt on September 8, 2023

From joint research by Lighthouse Reports, El País, Sky News, Le Monde, Süddeutsche Zeitung and Domani, it emerges that the Italian government lied about its role in the Crotone boat accident that killed 94 people, including 35 children, and that Frontex helped cover up the incident. I sent a question to the Commission with 25 MEPs from four political groups, which was answered on August 3.

No interest in clarification

Now Frontex has also responded to our question. Specifically, we asked:

What is Frontex's assessment of the revelations, especially in light of the fact that they are not in line with the information provided before the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs statements made by its Executive Director, Hans Leijtens, on May 23, 2023. be in harmony?

Unfortunately, Frontex's answer does not show much interest in a reappraisal. The Executive Director only claims that the ship was not in an emergency situation when it was sighted by Frontex six hours before the incident. He also claims that Frontex correctly informed the Italian authorities.

Information is also withheld from the press

Frontex also refuses to to provide the press with relevant information about the case. So far, the agency has published only one e-mail, which was sent immediately after the accident. Dozens of other documents remain under lock and key. Frontex justifies this by saying that it is important information on ongoing operations. In addition, the agency claims the information could be used by smugglers. These arguments are not very convincing, because smugglers do not primarily act according to where Frontex happens to be. The clarification of the accident that led to so many deaths should have priority here.

Question: Is the Commission ready to act after the cover-up of the Crotone accident?

Erik Marquardt on August 4, 2023

On June 14, I sent a question to the European Commission, which was supported by 25 MEPs from four political groups. The Commission does not answer my questions and excuses itself with the fact that it does not want to comment on ongoing investigations.

My request

From joint research by Lighthouse ReportsEl PaÃs, Sky News, Le Monde, Süddeutsche Zeitung and Domani, the Italian government lied about its role in the Crotone boat accident that killed 94 people, including 35 children, and that Frontex helped cover up the incident. In its reply to our previous written question, the Commission stated that âSearchâ and rescue operations […] are an obligation of the Member States under national law.â. Furthermore, the Commission pointed out that it does not consider a search and rescue mechanism coordinated by the Union necessary.

  • 1)What action does the Commission intend to take following this chain of catastrophic errors, and what consequences will Italy and Frontex face?
  • 2)What has the Commission done in the Frontex Management Board to clarify this misconduct by Frontex?


Answer given by Ylva Johansson on behalf of the European Union (3.08.2023)

The Commission is aware that the Italian authorities have launched an investigation to obtain relevant information on the shipwreck. While the Commission cannot comment on or prejudge the outcome of an ongoing investigation, it continues to urge all actors involved in search and rescue operations to act lawfully, swiftly and in a coordinated manner to ensure that people in distress at sea are brought to safety as quickly as possible.

The Commission and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) regularly exchange views, including through the Commission representatives on the Management Board of the Agency. The Commission recalls that at the joint meeting of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on 24 May 2023, the Executive Director of Frontex explained in detail Frontex’s actions in relation to the tragic incident in Crotone. In this meeting, the Italian Coast Guard also stated that the investigation of the incident is still ongoing. The Commission expects that the results of the investigation will be communicated to the Board as soon as they are available.

3) As the third question, concerning the assessment of the facts by Frontex, falls entirely within the competence of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the Commission has asked the Agency to provide the information requested by the Honourable Members. The Commission will provide the Honourable Members with the Agency's reply as soon as possible.

Question to the Commission on pushbacks from Italy to Greece

Erik Marquardt on January 27, 2023

Photo: Erik Marquardt

A week ago Lighthouse Reports published a report on the results of their research on pushbacks on tourist ferries from Italy to Greece. They found evidence that asylum seekers, including children, are held in unofficial prisons – sometimes handcuffed – during the crossing in the belly of passenger ships. SRF and ARD Monitor were also involved in the research and have reported on it in television reports. 

On January 25, together with five other Green MEPs, I submitted a written question to the European Commission. I would like to know to what extent these illegal pushbacks from Italy to Greece are compatible with EU asylum law, and what follow-up investigations are planned from the Commission to investigate this matter. Another question is about the bilateral readmission agreement between Italy and Greece from 1999 and whether this agreement is at all in line with the EU acquis. 

You can find my collected written questions to the Commission and the answers here.

My request

Lighthouse Reports, together with SRF, ARD Monitor, Al Jazeera, Il Domani and Solomon, published a report on January 18, 2023, documenting the practice of illegal pushbacks on passenger ships from Italy to Greece. Evidence shows that asylum seekers apprehended by Italian authorities in Adriatic ports are not able to claim asylum upon arrival, but are detained in port and then pushed back to Greece. Reports from individuals of Afghan, Syrian, or Iraqi origin indicate that they have been detained, handcuffed, and confined in confined spaces in segregated facilities on passenger ships during their deportation from Italy to Greece. 

  1. In the European Commission's view, to what extent is this practice compatible with the EU acquis on asylum?
  2. Is the bilateral readmission agreement between IT and GR compatible with the EU acquis?
  3. What follow-up action does the European Commission intend to take following the above report?
EN
EN DE