management European Border Agency (Frontex) is still surrounded by controversy and many doubts. So much so that the plenum of the European Parliament decided to follow the advice of the budget control commission, rejecting it this Tuesday by 345 votes to 284 against and 8 abstentions. Accounts for 2020 He resigned from his post at the end of April, alleging the existence of “serious errors and other irregularities” under the command of former executive director Fabrice Leggeri. european anti-fraud office (OLAF).
The European Parliament understands that Frontex is not doing what is necessary. guarantee the protection of fundamental rights immigrants and refugees and reflect journalistic information indicating that it participated in the illegal return of at least 957 refugees between March 2020 and September 2021. In this area, the plenary session regrets that the Warsaw-based agency did not fulfill some of the conditions contained in it. In previous reports on budget management and call on those responsible to immediately suspend their participation in the return of migrants and asylum seekers. Hungarybecause of the rule of law in the country.
when it comes to the situation in GreeceAPs, another source of concern in recent months, information between illegal returns number of people in the country and this agency staff join them. MEPs urge the European Commission to ensure this does not happen again and regret that the agency had not recruited at least 40 fundamental rights monitors by 5 December 2020, as stated in its obligations. The report also includes the suicide of a member of the agency’s staff over allegations of sexual harassment, and highlights that 17 cases of sexual harassment were reported in 2020, of which 15 were filed without any follow-up.
“It’s a big step forward. No more public funding for the violation of human rights at our borders”, congratulated the MEP from the Greens, Ernest Urtaun. “Parliament is sending a strong signal! No more impunity, no more repatriation at our borders! “French environmentalists, human rights violations and the right to asylum do not suit our democracies,” he said. Damien Carme. “Refusing evacuation is a political game by those who don’t like Frontex and are allergic to border management because they believe Europe should roll out the red carpet to anyone who wants to come here,” the EPP Member of Parliament complained. , Jeroen Lenaers.
Leggeri’s resignation
The vote on the accounts was scheduled for last May, but as a result of Leggeri’s resignation, it was delayed until the full publication of the long and detailed OLAF report, which noted systematic breaches through hot flashbacks in the Aegean and Aegean seas. hiding by border guards. Parliament has exclusive power budget and the power to grant, delay, or refuse release. As an authority in this field, other institutions should be accountable to him for how they spend public funds.
Despite the setback this represents for the agency, MEPs welcome the appointment of an interim director in July 2022, corrective measures adopted or planned, and changes introduced in terms of fundamental rights, but warn that Frontex’s problems may stem from the following. It is a “deeper structural quality” and not limited to the behavior of just a few individuals, as the board advocates.