Latest news with #pushbacks
The Sun
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
How Greek island Lesbos stopped migrant invasion using controversial yet effective ‘pushback' deterrent hailed by locals
AS the influx of illegal migrants to Britain's shores shows no sign of abating, something very different is happening 2,000 miles away on the Greek island of Lesbos. Here, just seven miles across the Mytilini Strait from Turkey, the number of crossings has shrunk, thanks to a controversial but extremely effective deterrent. 7 7 7 At its peak ten years ago, up to 3,500 migrants a day landed on Lesbos, having made the perilous journey across the Aegean Sea in makeshift boats and cheap dinghies. But now, thanks to Greece's robust policy of 'pushbacks' — intercepting the boats and returning them to Turkish waters — that number has plummeted to just 1,700 so far this year. Aegean Boat Report, a Norwegian non-governmental organisation that monitors migrant flows in the area, says Turkey also regularly intercepts boats before they reach the Greek Islands and returns them to the mainland. Campaigners have slammed the practice, claiming it is illegal, but locals say the crackdown has saved the scenic holiday retreat from economic disaster — and most importantly, it has saved lives. Fisherman Thanassis Marmarinos recalls the horror of seeing the bodies of migrants in the sea before Greece's hardline anti- immigration government was elected in 2019. Floating corpses He said: 'It was extremely bad before, I can't imagine it being any worse. 'Every day there were thousands of migrants crossing. 'For five months I couldn't make any money because I would spend all my time trying to stop them drowning. 'People were asking for help and they were dying in the water, so I had no other option. 'I saw the corpses floating in the sea with my own eyes. 'In 2015 there was only one coastguard ship and they were overwhelmed, so I and four other fishermen did what we could to help save lives. 'The smugglers were charging about 2,000 euros per person for the 90-minute sailing to Lesbos. 'But to save money they were giving the migrants cheap, Chinese-made boats that had two sections to their engines — one full of fuel, the other full of water, so they would stop working halfway.' In 2015, triggered by war and political unrest in the Middle East and Africa, the refugee crisis had one of its deadliest years for small-boat crossings. A total of 805 people drowned as they tried to cross what is dubbed the Eastern Mediterranean corridor by Frontex, the European Union's border and coastguard agency. An incredible 800,000 landed in Greece the same year, 60 per cent of them reaching Lesbos, according to the UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency. Since then, Frontex has expanded hugely, from a small administrative office in Warsaw to the EU's biggest agency, with 10,000 armed guards backed by helicopters, drones and ships and with an annual budget of more than a billion euros. Another six billion euros has been paid to Turkey to boost border security, and unlike Britain's £500million three-year deal with France, it has led to a sharp fall in people-smuggling. 7 7 Last year 54,000 small-boat migrants reached the Greek Islands from Turkey, and as we reported last week, Frontex has recorded a further 29 per cent fall in irregular migration through its Eastern Mediterranean border in the first quarter of this year. Fewer crossings have led to a fall in fatalities of more than 75 per cent since 2015, with 191 asylum seekers reported missing or dead in the same area last year. This is despite the Greek government banning charities and individuals from helping small-boat migrants while they are at sea — another key difference from the UK, where 1,371 people crossing the Channel were rescued by the RNLI last year. On Lesbos, new arrivals are not given a hotel room, and currently around 1,100 people are being housed in containers at the Closed Control Access Centre on the north east coast, where the provisions are basic. Sometimes when refugees reach here, they catch them, put them on a boat and drop them in the middle of the ocean on a life raft. Joaquin O'Ryan This is in contrast to two years ago, when up to 5,000 people had their claims processed there, while 20,000 were held in the island's old Moria 'camp of shame' before it was destroyed by fire in 2020. Fisherman Thanassis, 72, is one of the many islanders who believe that the election of the hardline New Democracy party in 2019, when Kyriakos Mitsotakis became Greece 's Prime Minister, was a turning point. He said: 'Everything changed when New Democracy was elected and they started sending the migrants back to Turkey. 'After that it became a bad deal to pay to cross to Greece, because you would end up back where you started.' When The Sun visited this week, there was not a single sea arrival on Lesbos, despite the Aegean being perfectly calm. Key to the change has been the decision to redesignate Turkey as a 'safe third country' for asylum-seekers. But charities insist the pushbacks are illegal, and Frontex is currently investigating alleged human rights violations by the Greek coastguard. 7 7 A statement by Aegean Boat Report said: 'Systematic human rights violations at the Greek sea border have been ongoing for over five years. 'Almost 100,000 people have been illegally and violently removed from Greek territory and pushed back towards Turkey, over 1,000 people have been killed in these illegal operations.' Joaquin O'Ryan, of humanitarian group Europe Cares, which provides meals and activities for people living in the CCAC camp, said: 'These pushbacks are illegal but it's a systemic process — they are not being carried out by just one person — so they can do whatever they want, basically. 'Sometimes when refugees reach here [Lesbos], they catch them, put them on a boat and drop them in the middle of the ocean on a life raft.' The Lesbos coastguard now has around half a dozen frigates, some supplied by Frontex, and most of the islanders we spoke to support the tough action being taken by the authorities. Waiter Kristos Condeli, 60, said: 'Tourism was completely destroyed for a few years after 2015. 'The cruise ships stopped coming here because they didn't want passengers to see corpses floating in the sea. 'There were thousands of migrants coming here and some of them resorted to stealing to survive. 'It got to the point that it was no longer safe to leave your bag in your car as someone would smash the window and steal it. 'UK could learn a lot' 'With no tourists, there was very little work for waiters. 'I had to relocate to Corfu to make a living and I've only recently been able to move back. 'The number of migrants crossing is down significantly in recent years and it's all thanks to the coastguard and Frontex, who are doing a fantastic job. 'The UK could learn a lot from the things done here.' Receptionist Maria Dimitriou works at the island's Molyvos Hotel. She fears the migrant problem has been pushed further south to Crete, where 6,500 migrants from Libya in North Africa have landed in the last six months. She said: 'Before the crisis started, we had one of our best years for tourism. 'The hotels were full of visitors from Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and the UK. 'When the migrants first started coming, the tourists said they wanted to help them. 'But the next year no one came back. 'I can only guess that they were put off by all the TV reports and they didn't want to risk seeing a dead body when they were on holiday. 'The drop in numbers almost destroyed the tourism industry in Lesbos. 'If it wasn't for weekend visitors from Turkey, this island would already be dead. 'In 2015 the refugees were everywhere. 'We felt sorry for the people from Syria, who were escaping a genuine war zone. 'After that, they were from everywhere and tell me, how can you be called a refugee when you are from Pakistan? 'The tourism industry is getting back to normal now and this hotel is close to full capacity for the next few months. 'But everyone is worried that, given what is happening in Iran and Palestine, the situation might get worse again.'
CNA
02-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
German govt defiant despite court ruling against migration crackdown
FRANKFURT: The new German government on Monday (Jun 2) said it would continue its flagship policy of turning asylum seekers away at its borders, despite a court ruling against the practice. The policy was brought in on May 7, just a day after conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his cabinet took office with a promise to crack down on irregular migration. However, Berlin's Administrative Court ruled on Monday that people "who express the wish to seek asylum while at a border check on German territory may not be sent back" before it was determined which state was responsible for processing their claim under the EU's so-called "Dublin" system. Despite this, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said hours after the judgement that "we will continue with the pushbacks", adding that "we think we have the legal justification for this". Monday's court decision follows an appeal made by three Somali nationals who encountered an immigration check at a train station at Frankfurt an der Oder on the Polish border on May 9. They expressed their wish to claim asylum in Germany but were sent back to Poland the same day. The court said that their pushback was illegal and that its "findings can also be applied to other cases" of people being turned away at Germany's borders. However, the court also ruled that "the petitioners cannot demand to be allowed into" Germany. The process of establishing which EU state is responsible for the asylum application "can be carried out at or close to the border", the court said. The court rejected the government's argument that the Dublin procedure could be disregarded if this is necessary to "keep public order and protect domestic security". The government had failed "to demonstrate a danger to public security or order" that would justify such a move, the court said. Dobrindt insisted that Monday's judgment only had a direct impact on the "individual case" of the three Somali complainants. He said he wanted the court to start another procedure in which the government could explain its case "more firmly". However, it is unclear whether this is legally possible given that the court said Monday's decision was final. Under the Dublin procedure, irregular migrants should be registered in the EU country they first enter. Should they head to another nation in the bloc, they can in most cases be returned to their first port of call in the EU. IRRITATED NEIGHBOURS The new policy of pushing back undocumented migrants at Germany's borders, including almost all asylum seekers, was quickly introduced after Merz's government took office early last month. This was despite worries voiced by some in his coalition's junior partner, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), that the policy was not legally sound. The government has also stressed that the pushbacks were temporary and that the longer-term solution has to be improved security at the EU's external borders. According to the interior ministry, more than 2,800 people have been denied entry to Germany in the first two weeks of the new policy being applied, including 138 people who wanted to claim asylum. A crackdown on irregular migration was a key plank of Merz's platform for February's general election. That vote saw the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) score its best-ever result of just over 20 per cent, and Merz insists that action on migration is the only way to halt the party's growth. The new government's pushback policy has led to some irritation among Germany's neighbours as well as fears of adverse impacts on cross-border commuters and border communities. On Monday, a foreign ministry source confirmed that the French embassy in Berlin had sent the German government a letter demanding clarity on Germany's migration policy. As well as the pushbacks, Merz's new government is planning to suspend family reunifications for two years for immigrants who have subsidiary protection status. It also wants to abolish a measure brought in under the previous government, which enables people to apply for German citizenship after three years if they can prove they are exceptionally well-integrated into German society.
The Independent
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Europe's human rights watchdog urges Greece to end summary deportation of migrants
Greece was urged Tuesday to implement stronger legal safeguards at its borders and adopt a 'zero-tolerance approach to summary returns" as reports of illegal deportations of migrants continue despite mounting international criticism. Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, issued the recommendations following a visit to Greece in February. 'The commissioner is concerned about the allegations received during his visit regarding persistent practices of summary returns — also referred to as 'pushbacks' or 'informal forced returns' — at both land and maritime borders,' the Council of Europe memorandum said. 'Returning people without carrying out an individual identification procedure prevents member states from establishing whether they may be sending them back to human rights abuses,' it added. It said O'Flaherty noted that the number of allegations had dropped in recent months. Athens has consistently denied the pushback allegations, maintaining that its border control measures comply with international law. In a written response to the commissioner, the Greek Police said its officers are involved only in the 'lawful prevention of illegal border crossings while migrants are still in Turkish territory and have not yet reached Greece.' The pushback allegations gained legal significance after the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Greece in January, finding that Athens had violated European human rights conventions by systematically expelling migrants without due process. The Greek government is tightening its migration policies. Migration Minister Makis Voridis has announced plans to extend the maximum detention period for rejected asylum seekers from 18 month to 24 months. 'The illegal migrant whose asylum application is rejected and who nevertheless does not leave for his country will face a much more unfavorable institutional environment than exists today — essentially to encourage voluntary departure,' Voridis told the Action 24 TV news channel. On Tuesday, the coast guard reported rescuing 158 migrants from three dinghies south of the island of Crete, with assistance from nearby commercial vessels and Frontex, the European Union's border protection agency. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Strasbourg, France, the Council of Europe is an international organization dedicated to promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. It has 46 member states.
Washington Post
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Europe's human rights watchdog urges Greece to end summary deportation of migrants
ATHENS, Greece — Greece was urged Tuesday to implement stronger legal safeguards at its borders and adopt a 'zero-tolerance approach to summary returns' as reports of illegal deportations of migrants continue despite mounting international criticism. Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, issued the recommendations following a visit to Greece in February. 'The commissioner is concerned about the allegations received during his visit regarding persistent practices of summary returns — also referred to as 'pushbacks' or 'informal forced returns' — at both land and maritime borders,' the Council of Europe memorandum said. Advertisement 'Returning people without carrying out an individual identification procedure prevents member states from establishing whether they may be sending them back to human rights abuses,' it added. Advertisement It said O'Flaherty noted that the number of allegations had dropped in recent months. 🌎 Follow World news Follow Athens has consistently denied the pushback allegations, maintaining that its border control measures comply with international law. In a written response to the commissioner, the Greek Police said its officers are involved only in the 'lawful prevention of illegal border crossings while migrants are still in Turkish territory and have not yet reached Greece.' The pushback allegations gained legal significance after the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Greece in January, finding that Athens had violated European human rights conventions by systematically expelling migrants without due process. Advertisement The Greek government is tightening its migration policies. Migration Minister Makis Voridis has announced plans to extend the maximum detention period for rejected asylum seekers from 18 month to 24 months. Advertisement 'The illegal migrant whose asylum application is rejected and who nevertheless does not leave for his country will face a much more unfavorable institutional environment than exists today — essentially to encourage voluntary departure,' Voridis told the Action 24 TV news channel. On Tuesday, the coast guard reported rescuing 158 migrants from three dinghies south of the island of Crete, with assistance from nearby commercial vessels and Frontex, the European Union's border protection agency .
Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Europe's human rights watchdog urges Greece to end summary deportation of migrants
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece was urged Tuesday to implement stronger legal safeguards at its borders and adopt a 'zero-tolerance approach to summary returns' as reports of illegal deportations of migrants continue despite mounting international criticism. Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, issued the recommendations following a visit to Greece in February. 'The commissioner is concerned about the allegations received during his visit regarding persistent practices of summary returns — also referred to as 'pushbacks' or 'informal forced returns' — at both land and maritime borders,' the Council of Europe memorandum said. 'Returning people without carrying out an individual identification procedure prevents member states from establishing whether they may be sending them back to human rights abuses,' it added. It said O'Flaherty noted that the number of allegations had dropped in recent months. Athens has consistently denied the pushback allegations, maintaining that its border control measures comply with international law. In a written response to the commissioner, the Greek Police said its officers are involved only in the 'lawful prevention of illegal border crossings while migrants are still in Turkish territory and have not yet reached Greece.' The pushback allegations gained legal significance after the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Greece in January, finding that Athens had violated European human rights conventions by systematically expelling migrants without due process. The Greek government is tightening its migration policies. Migration Minister Makis Voridis has announced plans to extend the maximum detention period for rejected asylum seekers from 18 month to 24 months. 'The illegal migrant whose asylum application is rejected and who nevertheless does not leave for his country will face a much more unfavorable institutional environment than exists today — essentially to encourage voluntary departure,' Voridis told the Action 24 TV news channel. On Tuesday, the coast guard reported rescuing 158 migrants from three dinghies south of the island of Crete, with assistance from nearby commercial vessels and Frontex, the European Union's border protection agency. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Strasbourg, France, the Council of Europe is an international organization dedicated to promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. It has 46 member states.
