Frontex: MEPs want to increase search and rescue operations capacity

MEPs say they want to “underline” that the EU border force Frontex could do more to increase the EU and member states’ capacity to carry out search and rescue operations.

It could do this, they say, by investing in appropriate assets for such operations.

Regarding the shipwreck off the coast of Greece on 14th June 2023, MEPs says they expect Frontex’s full cooperation during the inquiry.

At a meeting MEPs expressed “severe concerns regarding the serious and persistent allegations made against Greek authorities in relation to pushbacks and violence against migrants”.

Frontex should scale down its operations to mere monitoring and presence on the ground in cases where a member state is unable to respect EU principles and values, say MEPs.

They say they regret this has not happened in the case of Greece so far.

The EU deputies also welcomed the reduction in Frontex’s activities in Lithuania following the Court of Justice judgment and recommend “a more proactive approach to protecting EU principles and values.”

Regarding cooperation with Hungarian authorities, MEPs call for an immediate suspension of support for return operations from Hungary.

MEPs also praised “the positive role” played by the agency in helping member states deal with large numbers crossing external borders into the EU following the Russian attack against Ukraine and the deployment of around 500 officers along the Eastern border from Finland to Romania as well as the deployment of over 50 officers to Moldova.

The EU policymakers said they expect a change in Frontex’s work culture regarding respect for EU “principles and values, including fundamental rights, transparency and efficiency in internal procedures and accountability towards Parliament.”

They recognise the efforts made to implement 36 out of 42 recommendations made by the Frontex Scrutiny Group and recommend specific further actions.

The draft resolution will be tabled for a discussion and vote by the full parliament in a future plenary session.

The resolution stems from the fact-finding investigation carried out by the Civil Liberties Committee Working Group on Frontex Scrutiny (FSWG).

A delegation of the Civil Liberties Committee visited Frontex headquarters in Warsaw in June 2023.

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