EU: Border Agency Exposes Migrants to Abusive Conditions

Frontex Sends Migrants to Inhuman and Degrading Treatment in Greek Detention Centers

(Brussels, September 21, 2011) – Frontex, the European Union’s external border enforcement agency, is exposing migrants to inhuman and degrading conditions, Human Rights Watch said in a report issued today. Migrants apprehended along Greece’s land border with Turkey are sent to overcrowded detention centers in Greece, Human Rights Watch said.

Council Summit Should Endorse Approach Based on Human Rights Obligations

JUNE 20, 2011

(Brussels) - European Union (EU) heads of state meeting in Brussels later this week should put human rights at the heart of EU migration and asylum policy, Human Rights Watch said today. Migration is high on the agenda for the European Council summit on June 23 and 24, 2011, with external border control, free movement inside the EU, the Common European Asylum system, and migration cooperation with North Africa expected to be discussed.

Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis will be present and make statements at the departure, at 18:00 on Friday, 27 May, of the cargo ship “Agios Rafael” from the Spanopoulos shipyard, Kato Pounta-Ambelakia Salamina, for Benghazi, Libya.

The Greek-flagged “Agios Rafael” will carry 30 tons of Greek humanitarian aid – gathered by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff – including food, medicine and blankets.

Athens , 21 May 2011

An Air Force C-130 aircraft will depart from Eleusina airport for Benghazi at 10:00 tomorrow, carrying diplomatic and medical personnel, as well as a mobile first aid unit and significant quantities of medical supplies.

The mission, which consists of three Foreign Ministry personnel and seven medical personnel – including two general surgeons, a general practitioner and a psychologist – will undertake the distribution of the medical supplies and preparation for receipt of the humanitarian aid to be sent on a ship chartered by the Greek state.