Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Rubio: 'Very short window', maybe days, for Hamas to accept deal
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City

Green MEPs accuse Greece of setting up 'wall of lies' on immigration

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Sep 2022 17:33
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

Green European MPs are preparing to launch a petition to freeze funds for countries that perform pushbacks on migrants.

  • x
  • Green MEP's accuse Greece of setting up
    Green MEPs accuse Greece of setting up "wall of lies" on immigration

A delegation of Green European MPs criticized Greece on Tuesday for setting up a "wall of lies" to conceal its pushback of migrants back over its borders with the approval of Frontex, the EU agency responsible for preventing smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorism, as well as many other cross-border crimes.

New Democracy, the conservative political party currently heading the government in Athens "is trying to build a different reality" and raising a "wall of lies," according to German MEP Erik Marquardt, speaking at a news conference ahead of a meeting with Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi.

For years, Greece has denied media reports alleging that the country might be involved in pushbacks at sea. Instead, it has accused its neighbor, Turkey, of forcing illegal migrants to cross the border with Greece.

Last June, Athens rejected a UN report claiming that its border surveillance forces had illegally pushed back thousands of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants over the past two years.

However, Dutch Greens MEP Tineke Strik on Tuesday noted that pushbacks are "happening on a systematic scale."

"We have numerous reports from credible sources," Strik said.

Read more: Migrants beg for help from tiny island between Greece, Turkey

The group of Green MEPs also said that the Frontex agency was remaining absent in zones where pushbacks are believed to take place.

"They operate under the command of the Greek authorities. And the Greek authorities decide where (Frontex is) to be operational," Strik said.

"But if there are allegations that are very credible, that in certain areas pushbacks are taking place, why don't you demand to go and have a look?" she said.

Related News

Mass rallies held in Denmark, Greece against Gaza genocide

Greece wildfires intensify as heatwave grips southern Europe

The delegation also said the European Commission held sufficient information to initiate infringement procedures on pushbacks against Greece and Croatia.

The EU's executive arm "knows what is going on" and is taking a "deliberate decision" not to take further action, Strik said.

The Green delegation decided to launch an EU-wide petition to "freeze funds to countries that are performing pushbacks and make the new migration funds conditional (on) human rights compliance."

Read more: Greece blocks 40,000 migrants at Evros this year

Last year, some 3,231 men, women, and children have lost their lives drowning while attempting to reach European shores, with 1,881 in 2020, 1,510 in 2019, and more than 2,277 in 2018, according to data from the UNHCR. 

While such a tragedy is staged on an almost daily basis, EU governments are proceeding with their ongoing practice of evading responsibilities and throwing the blame onto one another.

For instance, last April, it was reported that Berlin forcefully evicted Afghan refugees from their houses to put up refugees from Ukraine in their stead.

Meanwhile, many have ironically remained silent on Poland's new anti-immigration wall, which has had severe consequences on the environment. 

As for Ukrainian refugees which the UK so dearly welcomed, it is estimated that 50,000 could be made homeless by next year due to ministers' reluctance of renewing a new package of support.

On top of everything, far-right political parties are thriving on anti-immigration positions, such as the fascist Brothers party in Italy or the National Rally in France. 

Read more: UN: Discrimination against Syrian refugees in Lebanon on the rise

  • Greece
  • immigrants
  • Wall Of Lies

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters during the inauguration of a monument in China's honor on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Politics

Netanyahu informed Trump before deadly attack in Doha: Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, during Rubio's visit, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, September 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu warns of Israeli isolation, calls to boost self-reliance

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Politics

Spain axes €700 mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS