Greece risks losing EU funding for alleged illegal pushbacks of migrants

ATHENS

Greece risks losing EU funding for alleged illegal pushbacks of migrants, Politico reported Thursday.

The risk came as a result of investigations by the EU’s border agency, Frontex, into 12 open cases of potential human rights violations of migrants at its borders -- the highest number of ongoing investigations by the agency involving a member state, according to the US-based news outlet.

It highlighted that the majority of the cases are related to alleged pushbacks of migrants by Greek migration officials at land borders and at sea, which is illegal under the UN Refugee Convention and international law.

Politico said Frontex announced it would make specific suggestions for Greece to implement, with potential repercussions if ignored.

“The executive director of Frontex has said that he expects all these recommendations to be implemented. Otherwise, he would consider reducing or cutting funding for co-financed assets (Greek Coast Guard vessels financed by Frontex),” said the agency’s spokesman Chris Borowski.​​​​​​​