The European Court of Justice has dismissed a case brought by a Syrian refugee family against the European border agency Frontex. The family argued that Frontex should be held accountable for their deportation from Greece to Turkey in 2016 without the opportunity to apply for asylum. The court ruled that Frontex does not have the power to assess return decisions or applications for international protection, and therefore cannot be held liable. The family's lawyers plan to appeal the ruling, stating that individuals should be able to hold Frontex accountable for its treatment of them. The case raises questions about how Frontex should monitor respect for fundamental rights in its activities.
The EU General Court has dismissed a landmark case brought by a Syrian refugee family against Frontex, the EU's border guard agency. The family sought damages after being deported to Turkey from Greece in 2016. The court ruled that Frontex cannot be held liable for damages as it does not have the power to assess asylum applications. The ruling has raised concerns about Frontex's mandate and accountability, with experts suggesting it contradicts human rights provisions. The family's lawyers plan to consider further legal steps, and human rights activists hoped the case would set a precedent. This comes as asylum claims in the EU have risen by 30% in the first half of 2023.
The European Union court has dismissed a landmark case brought against the EU border agency Frontex by a Syrian family alleging unlawful deportation, stating that the agency is not authorized to make "return decisions." This decision is seen as a setback for asylum seekers and activists seeking accountability for rights abuses at Europe's borders. The case, if successful, would have been the first to hold Frontex responsible for human rights violations. The ruling raises questions about Frontex's mandate and the need for accountability in EU institutions.
Spanish human rights NGO, Caminando Fronteras, has accused four national authorities and the European Union's border patrol agency, Frontex, of failing to prevent the deaths of dozens of migrants off West Africa. The NGO alleges that despite being warned about the boat weeks before, the authorities did not make sufficient efforts to rescue the migrants. At least 60 people are presumed dead, but Caminando Fronteras believes the death toll is 92, with 130 people on board the boat when it left Senegal. The NGO claims that survivors ran out of oil, food, and water, and if the authorities had searched for them, no one would have died. Caminando Fronteras also alleges that Frontex, while active in the region, does not provide assistance when required. The relevant authorities and Frontex have not yet responded to the allegations.
Greece did not respond to an offer from the EU's border agency, Frontex, to send a plane to monitor a migrant boat that later sank with huge loss of life, according to EU border officials. At least 82 people are known to have died in the incident last week, but the UN says a further 500 may have drowned. The Greek coastguard has not commented on this latest claim that it did not respond to the offer of further aerial help from Frontex.
The EU Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, offered to send a plane to monitor an overcrowded fishing boat that ultimately sank, with a loss of life that is feared to run into the hundreds, but received no reply from Greece. The Greek coast guard is facing increasing questions over its response to the fatal wreck, which happened some 80 kilometers off Pylos in the Peloponnese. Critics say that the Greek authorities should have acted faster to keep the vessel from capsizing. The Hellenic Coast Guard is facing increasing questions over its response to the fatal wreck, which happened some 80 kilometers off Pylos in the Peloponnese.
