The EU executive urged on Friday Greece to start an investigation into illegal migrant pushbacks while praising Croatia for its promise to launch an inquiry.
“I must say Croatia takes this seriously, they’re going to immediately investigate,” the EU’s Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said.
However, she said, “My discussion with the Greek minister was different.”
“I have made clear that I will not accept that Greece does not investigate this,” Johansson added.
“We have to protect our external borders, but we also have to protect our values, the law and fundamental rights.”
On Thursday, the commissioner had a meeting with the interior ministers of Croatia and Greece.
Der Spiegel and ARD media outlets documented that they talked about the two countries pushing back migrants illegally and violently.
The German media obtained a video clip of Croatian police carrying out 11 pushbacks into Bosnia, reports said.
Moreover, it had footage of Greece’s coast guard forcing migrants back into the Aegean Sea.
The Ministry of Migration in Athens denied the allegations and said it operated with respect to international law.
Per international law, people have the right to seek and claim asylum in other countries.
Furthermore, it is forbidden to send back people seeking asylum where their health and/or life may be in danger.
