EU Probes Greece Over Migrant Pushback Allegations

The EU is investigating 12 serious rights violations by Greece, including migrant pushback allegations, as Frontex pressures for accountability.

EU Probes Greece Over Alleged Pushbacks of Migrants

The European Union’s border control agency, Frontex, is examining a dozen serious incidents that suggest possible human rights violations by Greek authorities, reviving urgent questions about Europe’s treatment of migrants at its frontiers.

Among the cases under review are allegations that migrants were forcibly returned to Turkey—a practice known as “pushbacks” that violates international and European asylum law. While Greece denies any wrongdoing, these investigations have once again put the country’s migration policies under the spotlight.

A Troubled Gateway to Europe

Greece has long served as a key entry point for migrants and refugees fleeing war, persecution, and economic instability in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 250,000 people have been rescued by the Greek coast guard since 2015. But for every life saved, countless others have been lost in the perilous journey across the Aegean Sea.

Behind those rescues lies a murkier picture—one where allegations of mistreatment persist. Over the years, watchdog organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented repeated instances of pushbacks in both the Aegean and along Greece’s land border with Turkey. The European Court of Human Rights has also condemned these practices, pointing to a “systematic” pattern of illegal expulsions.

12 Cases Under the Microscope

Frontex spokesperson Chris Borowski confirmed on Tuesday that the agency’s Fundamental Rights Office is currently reviewing 12 Serious Incident Reports involving Greece. Of those, two occurred this year, nine in 2024, and one in 2023.

While the agency did not disclose specific details of the incidents, Borowski acknowledged that some involve allegations of illegal pushbacks—cases where migrants were returned without being granted the right to seek asylum, often under dangerous or degrading conditions.

Greek officials from the coast guard and police—who oversee sea and land border operations—declined immediate comment. One unnamed coast guard source maintained that Greek personnel operate with “a high sense of responsibility and with full respect for human lives and human rights.”

A History of Denials and Disciplinary Loopholes

Greece has consistently rejected accusations that it engages in pushbacks. Yet, the January 2025 ruling from the European Court of Human Rights offered stark rebuttal. The court found Greece in violation of its human rights obligations over a specific case involving its land border with Turkey, citing evidence of a pattern of unlawful returns.

Despite the severity of such rulings, the decision to discipline those responsible rests solely with Greek national authorities. This regulatory gap has allowed many alleged violations to go unpunished.

Meanwhile, Frontex itself has faced criticism over the years for turning a blind eye to abuses. A 2022 investigation by the European Parliament found that the agency had failed to properly document and report potential violations during joint operations with member states.

Frontex Tightens Its Approach

Since that reckoning, Frontex has made moves to reform. Under its new leadership, the agency has adopted a stricter oversight model. Borowski emphasized that Frontex now demands higher standards from partner states.

“We no longer supply resources unquestioningly,” he said. “We insist on standards and expect action.”

In practice, this means Frontex could withhold funding for national operations if a member state fails to report or address potential human rights violations. Indeed, the agency cut funding to Greek maritime patrols in 2024, citing budget constraints but also signaling that compliance with rights standards is non-negotiable.

A System Under Strain

The broader context behind these allegations is a European asylum system struggling to cope with pressure from migration waves that ebb and flow with geopolitical instability. From the fallout of the Syrian civil war to the ongoing strife in Afghanistan and economic collapse in sub-Saharan Africa, migration toward Europe remains steady.

But while migrants look to Europe for safety and opportunity, many are instead met with hardened borders, bureaucratic limbo, or worse—forced expulsion. The practice of pushbacks is not exclusive to Greece. Similar accusations have been leveled against Croatia, Hungary, and Poland, often targeting migrants traveling the Balkan route.

A 2023 report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) warned of a troubling normalization of pushbacks across the bloc. “The erosion of fundamental rights protections at Europe’s borders is a growing concern,” the report stated, urging swift and coordinated responses from EU institutions.

The Human Cost

For those on the receiving end of pushbacks, the consequences are harrowing. In many cases, migrants report being stripped of personal belongings, beaten, or left adrift at sea on inflatable rafts. Such practices violate not only EU law but also the principle of non-refoulement enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention.

The death toll in the Mediterranean also underscores the deadly cost of deterrence. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 3,000 people died trying to cross into Europe in 2023 alone—many in waters monitored by EU agencies.

What Comes Next?

As Frontex concludes its review of the 12 cases, the pressure on Greece—and the EU as a whole—to reform border policies will only intensify. Migration is poised to remain a central issue in the upcoming European Parliament elections, with nationalist parties pushing for stricter controls and rights advocates calling for greater accountability.

In the meantime, experts argue that a more humane, coordinated asylum system is the only way forward.

“Border control doesn’t have to come at the expense of human dignity,” says Eva Cossé, a researcher with Human Rights Watch. “But that requires political will, transparency, and enforcement of the law—not just at the borders, but in the halls of power.”

Between Reform and Responsibility

The EU’s probe into Greece’s border practices highlights a defining challenge of our time—how to balance border security with the values of human rights and international protection. As the investigations unfold, the response—or lack thereof—will serve as a litmus test for the EU’s credibility on human rights.

What’s clear is that silence and inaction only embolden abuse. Transparency, legal accountability, and political courage are essential if the EU hopes to chart a path that respects both security imperatives and the sanctity of human life.

Source:  (Reuters)

(Disclaimer:  This article is for informational purposes only. The facts presented are based on currently available reports, official statements, and court decisions as of April 2025. Any developments occurring after this date may not be reflected.)

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