Greek campaign demands investigation of the Pylos catastrophy

Refugees Welcome, Denmark is a signatory to an appeal from a number of Greek ngo's

Pylos shipwreck: Yet another tragedy – consequence of deterrence policies

Athens, 16 June 2023

Seventy-eight (78) people dead and more than 500 missing after the shipwreck off the coast of Pylos are seeking justice against a policy of deterrence that led them to the bottom of the Mediterranean.

Just a few days after an agreement was reached at the Council of Ministers of the EU on the management of migration and asylum, both Frontex and the Greek Coast Guard, which had the responsibility for coordinating search and rescue, failed to provide adequate assistance to an unseaworthy vessel carrying more than 500 people that was in distress for almost a full day, from the time they were informed, resulting in it sinking and dragging hundreds of people into its watery grave.

The shipwreck, however much it is attempted to be attributed to human errors and unscrupulous smugglers, bears the signature and the stamp of the policies of the European Union that are implemented with great consistency by the governments of countries at Europe’s borders, as is particularly the case of the Greek government.

Multiple questions arise about the actions of the competent authorities as well as Frontex itself, which from the very first moment was monitoring the vessel, but was quick to deny its responsibilities, pointing exclusively to the Hellenic Search and Rescue Coordination Centre.

Once again it is sadly necessary to point out that defending the principles of the Rule of Law and Democracy requires first and foremost respect for human life and dignity.

We ask:

• For an investigation over the circumstances and causes of the tragedy and for due responsibilities to be attributed at the level of both the Greek state and the EU.

• For the establishment of safe and legal pathways for refugees and migrants to access EU territory.

• For the EU policy that forces member states at the external borders to act as deterrents, with the result of often tragic shipwrecks and pushbacks incidents that lead to the degeneration of the protection of human life and dignity, to be condemned.

• For the victims of this tragedy to be granted asylum and protection.