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Frontex enquiry
European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly has opened an own-initiative inquiry aimed at clarifying Frontex’s role in search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean sea following the drowning of hundreds of people off the coast of Greece on 14 June 2023.
Ms O’Reilly has asked to inspect a wide range of documents concerning Frontex’s responsibilities to rescue those in distress at seas, including the formal report (Serious Incident Report) about how events unfolded with the Adriana boat as well as reports of the other recent incidents involving considerable loss of life in the Mediterranean.
She has also asked for details about how information about search and rescue operations is shared between Frontex and national authorities and whether Frontex has a say on how these operations are designed or implemented.
Other questions concern whether there are specific rules for the use of cameras mounted on boats during joint operations and whether Frontex reports on fundamental rights violations with regard to the interactions of Member State authorities with NGO vessels that rescue people at sea.
The Ombudsman is coordinating her inquiry with Greek Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis who has the power to look into how the Greek authorities dealt with the Adriana boat.
“While the Greek authorities' role is being investigated at the national level, Frontex’s role in search and rescue operation also needs to be clarified. It has been reported that in this instance Frontex alerted the Greek authorities to the ship’s presence and offered assistance but it is not clear what else it could or should have done,” said Ms O’Reilly.
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Source: The European Ombudsman
