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Federal police officers were also involved in a controversial operation against migrants in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey.
The "Spiegel" reported that the head of the EU border protection agency Frontex, Fabrice Leggeri, wrote to the EU Commission. "Report Mainz" was also able to see the internal report.
The Federal Ministry of the Interior confirmed that German forces were on site for the deployment in question.
As the "Spiegel" reports, a Greek observation post discovered on the morning of August 10th a rubber dinghy with migrants on the sea, which had clearly already been in Greek waters.
The federal police ship "Uckermark" was a quarter of an hour later and found 40 people on the overcrowded rubber dinghy.
The crew did not take anyone on board, but waited for the Greek coast guard.
That complied with the order, writes Frontex according to “Spiegel” in the internal report.
The "Uckermark" had prevented the boat from continuing until the Greeks arrived.
According to "Spiegel", a photo taken two hours later by the Turkish coast guard shows the rescue of 40 migrants from a rubber dinghy by Turkish security forces.
In the room there is the suspicion of an illegal expulsion according to international law without prior examination, e.g. a request for asylum (pushback).
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The Greek authorities, which Leggeri quotes according to "Spiegel", spoke of a "prevented entry", the migrants had voluntarily returned.
When Frontex asked, it was said that the coast guard had "taken border protection measures to prevent the arrival on Samos".
The Federal Ministry of the Interior confirmed the general features of the operation to the German Press Agency on request, insofar as the Federal Police was involved.
The German forces acted as part of the Frontex Poseidon operation and were subordinate to the Greek authorities, said a spokeswoman.
At their request, they drove to the rubber dinghy and stayed there until the coast guard arrived.
“The German officials reported the facts to the Greek authorities and Frontex in accordance with the regulations,” she said.
“So far there is no reliable evidence or reliable knowledge that this issue can be viewed as a so-called pushback.” In two weeks' time, the Frontex Board of Directors will again deal with allegations of pushbacks.
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The human rights policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Frank Schwabe, calls for the federal police to withdraw from the Aegean: “Germans are not allowed to participate in pushbacks, not even indirectly.
And if Frontex cannot ensure that, the German contingent must be withdrawn, ”he told the“ Spiegel ”.
There have already been several reports that Greek border guards are driving back inflatable boats with migrants on board in the Aegean Sea towards Turkey.
“Spiegel”, “Report Mainz” and other international media reported in October that Greek border guards are driving back inflatables with migrants on board in the Aegean Sea towards Turkey.
They relied on information from those affected and on video recordings.
Frontex officials have been nearby on several of these actions since April 2020, according to reports.
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In one case, a Frontex ship is said to have initially blocked an overloaded boat with migrants, but did not take in the occupants.
Instead, the officers drove past the boat "at high speed" and left the place.
Further videos can be seen how the Greek coast guard later pushes the inflatable boat back towards Turkey.
In another case, a Frontex surveillance aircraft is said to have flown over the site.
German soldiers have also seen several times in the Aegean Sea how boats carrying migrants are being pushed back into Turkish waters on their way to Greece.
According to information from the dpa, three such incidents were documented in June.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly accused Athens of allowing illegal rejections.
Athens denies this.