The European Union’s administrative watchdog called Wednesday for a change to Europe’s search and rescue rules following an inquiry into last year’s sinking of a rusty fishing boat, the Adriana, carrying hundreds of migrants while traveling from Libya to Italy.
European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly said current rules prevent the EU’s border and coast guard agency Frontex from fulfilling its obligations to protect the rights of migrants or act independently of national authorities when boats they use are in distress.
Up to 750 people were believed to be crammed aboard the Adriana when it sank off Greece last June. Just 104 people were rescued — mostly migrants from Syria, Pakistan and Egypt — and 82 bodies were found. Human rights groups accused Greek authorities of failing to properly investigate. Italian authorities were also involved in the incident.
“Why did reports of overcrowding, an apparent lack of life vests, children on board and possible fatalities fail to trigger timely rescue efforts that could have saved hundreds of lives?” O’Reilly asked.
It wouldn’t be the first time. Greeks are pretty hateful toward migrants. A couple months ago, ferry workers pushed a guy overboard to his death because they thought he was a foreigner: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/13/greece-ferry-passenger-sea-death-crew-radio-recordings-conversations-leaked
(Edit: never mind this is the one this post is about) Also last year, the Greek coast guard was involved in a migrant smuggling shipwreck, being accused of both ignoring offers to help and causing it to capsize by towing at high speed while already unstable: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/6/26/greek-coastguard-faces-tough-questions-over-refugee-boat-tragedy
And they did the same thing causing the wreck of another boat off Farmakonisi in 2014.