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Has Frontex, the agency responsible for the EU's external borders, tolerated and abused migrants? This is claimed by several German and English media, based on documents internal to the agency.
This is a survey conducted by the investigative site Correctiv and the ARD chain, both Germans, as well as by the British daily Guardian .
On the basis of internal documents, they accuse the Frontex agency of tolerating abuses against migrants by Bulgarian, Hungarian or Greek border guards.
According to their investigation, Frontex has become aware of abuse, such as the hunt for asylum seekers by dogs or the misuse of pepper spray, without taking any action.
The agency may decide to withdraw its agents and resources from countries where fundamental rights are violated. But Frontex dismissed this option on the grounds that the presence of its agents would minimize the risk of violence by local officials.
The investigation goes even further and shows the direct involvement of members of the agency in the expulsion of unaccompanied minors, and asylum seekers sedated during their eviction flights.
The European Commission says it takes " very seriously these accusations ", and ensures that if these " unacceptable acts of violence against migrants " were to be proven, it will draw the appropriate consequences.
► See also: Migrants: 14 European countries think about a solidarity distribution agreement