Frontex

Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, is in the news due to a recent tragedy and ongoing investigations into past actions. A Frontex vessel rescued 26 migrants off the coast of Crete after their boat drifted for six days, during which 22 others died, allegedly thrown overboard on the orders of smugglers. Survivors reported the boat departed from Libya. Simultaneously, Fabrice Leggeri, Frontex's former director (2015 until his resignation), is under investigation in France for alleged complicity in crimes against humanity. He is accused of facilitating or covering up illegal pushbacks of migrant boats by Greek authorities towards Turkey and interceptions by Libyan coastguards of boats headed to Italy. These events highlight the complex and controversial role of Frontex in managing migration flows into Europe, raising questions about its operational practices and accountability.