DeepSummary
The podcast episode discusses allegations of human rights violations by Frontex, the EU's border and coast guard agency. According to a report, Frontex officers were instructed not to report incidents of illegal pushbacks of migrants by Albanian authorities. This is not the first time Frontex has faced accusations of violating human rights and abusing power, with previous incidents involving covering up pushbacks by Greek border guards and cooperating with Libyan militia to turn back migrant boats.
Despite these serious allegations, Frontex has not been held accountable due to its complex structure, legal challenges, and strong political backing from EU member states. The episode raises concerns over Frontex's expanding role, as it plans to form a standing corps of 10,000 border guards by 2027. This approach aligns with the broader political attitude on migration within Europe, with the EU striking controversial deals with repressive regimes to stop migrants from reaching Europe.
The episode also discusses the recently passed EU migration pact, which has been criticized by human rights NGOs for normalizing arbitrary detention, racial profiling, and enabling pushbacks. The episode questions whether Albania, as an EU candidate country, is aligning itself with these EU policies in a bid to gain favor.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Frontex, the EU's border agency, has been accused of overlooking illegal pushbacks of migrants by Albanian authorities.
- Frontex has faced multiple allegations of human rights violations, including covering up pushbacks by Greek border guards and cooperating with Libyan militia.
- Despite these allegations, Frontex has not been held accountable due to its complex structure, legal challenges, and political backing from EU member states.
- Frontex plans to significantly expand its operations by forming a standing corps of 10,000 border guards by 2027.
- The EU has struck controversial deals with repressive regimes, offering money in return for stopping migrants from reaching Europe.
- The EU's recently passed migration pact has been criticized by human rights NGOs for normalizing arbitrary detention, racial profiling, and enabling pushbacks.
- The episode questions whether Albania, as an EU candidate country, is aligning itself with the EU's hardline migration policies to gain favor.
- The episode highlights the EU's increasingly hardline stance on migration and its detachment from human rights values.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Now the agency plans to form a standing corpse of 10,000 border guards by 2027.“ by Sedan Anlar
- “Over the past year, the EU has struck controversial deals with repressive regimes including Tunisia and Egypt, offering money in return for stopping migrants from reaching Europe.“ by Sedan Anlar
- “The pact was widely criticized by human rights NgO's, who argued it will normalize the arbitrary, arbitrary use of immigration detention, increase racial profiling, use crisis procedures to enable pushbacks, and return individuals to so called safe third countries where they are at risk of violence, torture, and arbitrary imprisonment.“ by Sedan Anlar
- “Despite serious allegations, Frontex hasnt been really held accountable due to various reasons, such as its complex structure functioning as a coordination body, legal challenges stemming from shared responsibilities, and most importantly, strong political backing from EU member states.“ by Sedan Anlar
- “Now its border guards stand accused of turning away people in similar situations.“ by Sedan Anlar
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Episode Information
Europe, Day by Day
Europod
6/28/24
Who watches the watchmen? This question about the abuse of power, dating back to Roman times, is relevant today after fresh allegations of rights violations by FRONTEX, the EU border agency. With anti-migrant sentiment rising across Europe, is the EU becoming further detached from its commitment to human rights values?
Europe, Day by Day is a Europod production in partnership with Sphera Network.
The executive producer of Europe, Day by Day is Alexander Damiano Ricci.
The host of today's episode is Seden Anlar.
The scriptwriter is Andrew Connelly.
This episode was produced and edited by Seden Anlar.
Original soundtrack by Thomas Kusberg.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.