MEPs denounce fresh reports of migrant pushbacks at Greece-Turkey border

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16.06.2022 - 15:47

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euronews.com:

The European Commission must "condemn any use of violence" and ensure the rule of law is respected across member states when it comes to migration, a group of MEPs demanded on Thursday, over fresh reports of illegal pushbacks in Greece.

In a letter seen by Euronews, the chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Juan Fernando López Aguilar, denounced "consistent reports referring to dozens of persons seeking international protection pushed back from Greece to Turkey through the land border area of the Evros River."

The letter is addressed to Margaritis Schinas, Commissioner for Promoting the European Way of Life, Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Values and Transparency, and Ylva Johansson, Commissioner for Home Affairs.

Aguilar flagged that the European Court for Human Rights has issued 13 orders of interim measures over the past few weeks, demanding Greek authorities ensure that the persons impacted by the illegal pushbacks be given immediate humanitarian and medical assistance and that they receive be allowed to start the "reception and identification procedures provided by law."

He also expressed concerns over reports that several NGOs on the ground are being investigated for smuggling. "We sincerely hope that this is not going to evolve in a situation by which NGOs providing legal assistance would be criminalised for doing so," he wrote.

"The LIBE Committee considers that the Commission has the duty and the responsibility to condemn any use of violence, to enforce the Union acquis and to take all the necessary measures in order to ensure that the Rule of Law is upheld by the Member States," he went on.

"Hence, we believe that the Commission is responsible to ensure