de.euronews.com
Frontex Chief: Three Years Needed to Change Agency Culture
Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens says cultural change within the agency will take three years, addressing transparency and diversity issues while acknowledging past involvement in pushbacks and limitations in responding to the Adriana shipwreck where 600 migrants died.
- How do the jurisdictional limitations of Frontex impact its ability to effectively respond to migrant boat emergencies?
- Leijtens acknowledges Frontex's association with "pushbacks," the practice of turning back migrant boats in the Mediterranean. A 2022 OLAF report found Frontex concealed illegal pushbacks by the Greek coast guard under Leijtens' predecessor. Leijtens argues Frontex operates within a mandate, while the coast guard of each state has its own responsibilities. He prefers Greece adhere to international law, especially given 13 alleged human rights violations under investigation, prompting potential funding cuts for Greece.
- What immediate steps is Frontex taking to address its past involvement in illegal pushbacks and improve its human rights record?
- Two years into his term, Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens told Euronews that changing the organization's culture will take the remaining three years of his mandate. He stated that internal transparency is "crucial" and, contrary to a current US-led trend, Frontex needs to better integrate gender and identity diversity. This includes recruitment and creating a fair, diverse organization regarding gender and nationalities.", A2=
- What long-term systemic changes are needed to prevent future tragedies like the Adriana shipwreck, addressing both Frontex's operational capabilities and the cooperation of member states?
- Leijtens' comments on the Adriana shipwreck, where 600 died, highlight Frontex's limitations. While Frontex alerted Greek authorities, they lacked the capacity to intervene effectively due to resource constraints and operational limitations. Greece rejected Frontex's proposal to send additional aircraft, underscoring the complex jurisdictional challenges and inter-agency cooperation issues in managing migrant crises.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames Frontex's actions and challenges primarily through the lens of Leijtens' statements and internal reforms. While acknowledging the criticisms and incidents, the emphasis remains on the organization's efforts to improve transparency and diversity, potentially downplaying the severity of the accusations and the broader implications of past actions. The headline, if any, would heavily influence this effect. The introduction could be structured differently to highlight both the positive changes and the serious incidents, ensuring a balanced presentation.
Language Bias
The article generally maintains a neutral tone. However, phrases such as "brutal consequences" in the description of the Adriana incident could be considered loaded language. More neutral alternatives could include "severe consequences" or "tragic outcome". The repeated use of "pushbacks" frames the actions in a specific way; using alternative phrasing like "forced returns" might offer a broader perspective. The overall assessment of this article is to be neutral, no severe issues are found.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on Frontex's internal issues and Leijtens' statements, but omits in-depth analysis of the broader political context surrounding migration policies and the EU's role in the Mediterranean crisis. While acknowledging incidents where migrants drowned, it lacks detailed statistics on the overall number of deaths and the effectiveness of different rescue measures. The article also doesn't delve into criticism of the EU's handling of the migration crisis, potentially limiting the reader's ability to form a complete understanding of the situation. The limitations might be due to scope and focus, but this omission still impacts the comprehensive nature of the report.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplified view of the situation by focusing on Frontex's internal reforms and the Greek authorities' actions, while not extensively exploring alternative approaches or international collaborations in addressing migrant rescues and the overall migration crisis. The potential for a broader, more multifaceted approach is not thoroughly explored.
Gender Bias
The article mentions the need for gender diversity within Frontex but doesn't extensively analyze gender dynamics related to the migration crisis itself or within Frontex's operational structure. A more in-depth analysis could explore potential gender biases in rescue efforts, the demographics of migrants, and the impact on women and girls specifically.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights Frontex's efforts to improve internal transparency and address allegations of human rights violations, contributing to better governance and accountability within the organization. This aligns with SDG 16, which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies, access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The efforts to increase gender and diversity within Frontex also contribute to more inclusive institutions.