When the situation along the EU's external borders escalates, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, or Frontex for short, is called in for support. The latest EU member state to turn to the agency is Greece, which has requested help to bolster its border with Turkey.

In emergency situations Frontex can send in up to 1,500 extra border guards, which EU member states must assemble within five days. According to the quota, Germany must contribute 15% of these emergency border guards.

Emergency Frontex missions are designed to take pressure off of an EU state, especially when "large numbers of non-EU nationals [are] trying to enter its territory illegally."

Frontex personnel aren't independent; instead, they're coordinated by the EU member state which requested their help. This means Greek authorities will work out an action plan together with Frontex to decide, for instance, when the use of live ammunition is permitted. A coordinating Frontex officer will then oversee the implementation of the plan.

Read more: Europe faces 'serious decision' on refugees amid Idlib catastrophe

The border agency also supplies vehicles, surveillance technology and, if needed, vessels to help protect a member state's border. Frontex can also dispatch specialists to check for forged documents and experts to register asylum-seekers.

Watch video 01:43 Share Refugees stuck in limbo Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3YnTW Refugees stuck in limbo on Turkish border

'Safe and well-functioning external borders'

The agency, which was established in 2004 and has its headquarters in Warsaw, has gained importance in recent years. Frontex's mission is to maintain "safe and well-functioning external borders." The agency's executive director, Fabrice Leggeri, said that in order for people to move freely within the Schengen Area, the EU needs a "common management of the external border."

At the height of the 2015/2016 refugee crisis, it became apparent that several EU states were simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of asylum-seekers headed their way. This pressure on the EU's external borders caused some states to question the bloc's internal open borders principle. And to this day, EU states still haven't agreed on a fair redistribution of recognized refugees throughout the bloc.

Read more: Refugee crisis in Greece: Anger and foreboding grow on Lesbos

Taken together, these factors have prompted the EU to instead focus on bolstering measures to curb irregular migration. By 2027, the agency plans to boost personnel to 10,000 officers. Its budget has also grown tremendously, amounting to €1.6 billion ($1.7 billion) in the coming year.

Watch video 04:50 Share Migrants trapped at Turkey-Greece border Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3Yd5G Migrants trapped in no-man's-land

Accused of misconduct

But Frontex has also been fiercely criticized. Aid agencies have regularly accused the agency of making human rights violations and breaching international refugee conventions. Frontex has also been blamed for looking the other way when national border guards have acted improperly.

Until 2014, Frontex is said to have regularly pushed boats carrying asylum-seekers off course in the Mediterranean, thereby preventing individuals from submitting asylum applications. Ilkka Laitinen, who ran the agency at the time, even admitted to these practices. Since then, Frontex missions have operated with greater restrictions.

Several years ago, the agency established a consultative body with representatives from various aid agencies, the Red Cross and the United Nations. Stefan Kessler, who heads the body, told DW in August 2019 about its limited influence. "Only EU member states who are on the management board, along with two EU Commission civil servants, control Frontex. There is no effective way to control the agency from the outside," he said.

Read more: Will the EU-Turkey refugee deal collapse?

And that has once again become apparent in recent days. Sebastian Koch, of human rights group Seebrücke, said Tuesday that "we cannot look on as the Greek military and Frontex fire tear gas, flash grenades and water cannons at children, women and men." And Ulrich Lilie, who heads Protestant charitable organization Diakonie Deutschland, said "the violence used by Greek border police and Frontex against refugees has reached an unprecedented level."

Watch video 00:44 Von der Leyen: 'Our unity will prevail'

The EU, however, appears determined to prevent any unchecked migration into the bloc. On Tuesday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to deploy several coast guard vessels, two helicopters and other aircraft, three thermovision vehicles and add 100 border guards to the 530 Frontex already has in Greece, along with €700 million in assistance.

"The situation at our border is not only an issue for Greece to manage, it is the responsibility of Europe as a whole," said von der Leyen. "We will hold the line and our unity will prevail."

Moria refugee camp: A new kind of hell awaits A view from above Moria refugee camp has a capacity of 3,000. Currently, some 14,500 refugees are squeezed into the infamous refugee camp, Greece's largest reception and identification center.

Moria refugee camp: A new kind of hell awaits Deep wounds A large majority of those who live in Moria have been deemed as vulnerable and are in need of immediate medical assistance. This girl from Gaza, who lives with her family in a tent in the olive grove outside Moria, was severely injured when an Israeli rocket hit her home.

Moria refugee camp: A new kind of hell awaits A false dawn? In August more than 2,800 people arrived in dinghies on the island of Lesbos. A boat carrying 40 people was brought into the port of Skala Sikamineas after it was intercepted by Frontex, the EU's border agency. Eight women and 18 children, including five unaccompanied minors, were on board along with 14 men, all from Afghanistan.

Moria refugee camp: A new kind of hell awaits The wait begins After the women and children have been transferred to a transit camp, 18 men wait to be taken away to the same camp by the authorities. Volunteers with the NGO Lighthouse relief assist the authorities in providing food and water to those who have recently arrived.

Moria refugee camp: A new kind of hell awaits Keeping the tradition alive An Afghan woman makes bread in a makeshift underground oven which she then sells for €1 ($1.10) to other refugees. Due to deteriorating conditions and food provisions that are below standard quality many refugees who remain for long in the camp of Moria have found new ways to pass the day and remember home.

Moria refugee camp: A new kind of hell awaits A soothing hand Countless refugees need urgent medical attention. Doctors without Borders operate an emergency clinic opposite Moria for the most urgent cases, as the main camp currently only has one doctor and the hospital of Mytilene is overwhelmed and in some cases unwilling to treat refugees.

Moria refugee camp: A new kind of hell awaits Discarded dreams A "graveyard" of life jackets and boats on the island's north is a stark reminder of the last huge influx of refugees in 2015/16. Lesbos has been at the center of the refugee crisis for years as thousands of people have landed on its shores. Currently there are more than 11,000 refugees spread across the islands. That number is expected to rise sharply by the end of the year.

Moria refugee camp: A new kind of hell awaits Monotonous routine Waiting in line has become the main daily activity for those stuck in Moria limbo — even for children. Some wait for hours in order to receive food and water.

Moria refugee camp: A new kind of hell awaits From the frying pan into the fire A group of refugees prepares to board a ship which will take them to mainland Greece. After the sudden arrival of 600 people in one night, the Greek government decided to transfer 1,400 people to the mainland. Most were taken to the camp of Nea Kavala in a remote village in northern Greece. Author: Dimitris Tosidis (Moira refugee camp)



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