Frontex is deeply engaged in assisting Greece to handle the unprecedented numbers of migrants who had been arriving on its Aegean islands in recent months. Currently, Frontex deploys 477 officers throughout Greece, including 172 crew members of vessels helping to patrol Greek waters. This compares to 220 officers deployed by Frontex in October.
On the islands most affected by the inflow of migrants, Frontex has 264 officers assisting in the registration of new arrivals, as well as border surveillance officers, and debriefing and document experts.
To increase the number of officers assisting Greece, in October Frontex called on EU Member States to provide 775 border guards for its activities, with 600 to be deployed in Greece. Member States have so far offered 447 officers.
“Frontex is grateful for the contributions, but more efforts are still needed,” said Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri.
In all of 2015, Frontex launched six calls for border guard officers and technical equipment to be deployed in Frontex operations.
Greece had also asked the agency to pay the daily subsistence allowances of 1,535 Greek police officers, which Frontex cannot provide within the framework of its current mandate.
Frontex will also expand its activities to Greece’s border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, where the agency will assist with registration of migrants. The deployment of additional officers will begin next week.
In the margins of today’s JHA Council, Greek Minister Yannis Mouzalas underlined that Greece appreciates the agency's assistance and welcomes additional support. Frontex Executive Director confirmed that the agency has been upscaling its activities in Greece in the last months and stressed that it will further support the country with the border guards deployed by EU Member States.