The 32 officers deployed by Frontex on the Greek island of Chios have been unable to work at the registration facility there because of concerns of possible asbestos contamination in the building.
The Greek authorities have located the Chios registration facilities in Tabakika inside an old factory which has a roof that contains asbestos. Due to concerns of contamination, the screening, debriefing, fingerprint experts as well as interpreters deployed by Frontex have been banned from working there.
“Frontex is responsible for the health and safety of the officers deployed in our operations. We cannot let them work for many hours every day in the current registration facility on Chios until we are assured that there is no danger from a possible asbestos contamination,” said Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri.
“Frontex stands ready to resume registration activities as soon as we are provided with adequate facilities or new tests determine that the air inside the facilities is not contaminated,” he added.