The European Union's rights watchdog announced on Wednesday that it has opened an investigation into the sinking of a migrant ship and whether the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) fulfilled its rescue obligations during the shipwreck off the coast of Greece last month. Emily O'Reilly, the EU Ombudsman, stated that her office would review Frontex's internal rules, cooperation with Greek authorities, and reports prepared following the disaster, emphasizing that the deaths necessitate thorough scrutiny.
In announcing the investigation into the sinking of the Adriana on June 14, she said, "My office will focus on Frontex's role as we try to piece together the events that led to the capsizing of the ship and the deaths of at least 500 people." She noted that "migration to Europe will continue, and it is up to the EU to ensure that it acts in a manner that upholds fundamental rights and does not overlook human suffering." O'Reilly also mentioned that she would examine the recent EU agreement with Tunisia to curb migration to Europe.
For its part, Frontex indicated that it would cooperate with the investigation, stating in its announcement, "Frontex sees saving lives at sea as one of its core roles and provides all necessary support to national authorities when needed."
