EU says Greece must investigate migrant pushbacks

The European Commission on Thursday said it is up to member states to investigate any allegations of misconduct at their borders, following reports that Greek police recruited migrants to carry out violent pushbacks against other migrants along the Turkish border.

"We are aware of media reporting on this matter. It is the responsibility of member states to investigate any allegations by establishing the facts and also to ensure adequate follow-up on any identified wrongdoings," spokesperson Markus Lammert told reporters in Brussels.

"It's not for the commission to identify and we have no additional information on this specific case," he added.

Lammert underlined that border management falls under the responsibility of member states, noting that it must be carried out within the EU legal framework and in respect of fundamental rights.

The remarks come after a BBC investigation alleged that Greek police recruited migrants as so-called "mercenaries" to forcibly push other migrants back across the land border with Türkiye in the Evros region.

The report, carried out in collaboration with the Consolidated Rescue Group (CRG), claims the practice has been ongoing since at least 2020 and includes allegations of serious abuses.

Greek authorities have not publicly responded to the allegations, while Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said he was "totally unaware" of the reported practices.