A recent inquiry conducted by the European Ombudsman, released on Monday, 6 July, has exposed significant shortcomings in how the Malta-based EU Asylum Agency (EUAA) manages asylum applicants in Greece. The investigation identified critical failures, including a lack of proper staff training that resulted in the agency missing clear indicators of human trafficking and incidents of migrant pushbacks.
The watchdog’s probe was initiated following concerns raised by two legal aid non-governmental organizations operating on the island of Samos—a primary arrival point for migrants in the east Aegean. In November 2022, “I Have Rights Samos” and “Avocats sans Frontières France” first highlighted issues regarding the quality of interviews conducted by EUAA caseworkers with vulnerable applicants. These mistakes included failure to flag cases of human trafficking and pushbacks, possibly due to insufficient staff training included in the agency’s operational protocols. When the agency failed to address these initial concerns, the NGOs escalated the matter, filing a formal complaint regarding the improper assessment of asylum claims, particularly those involving survivors of torture and inhuman treatment. Furthermore, they criticized the agency for failing to investigate reports of pushbacks allegedly carried out by the Greek coastguard.
The NGOs emphasized that their complaint raised serious questions about how the EUAA handles and scrutinizes allegations of fundamental rights violations committed by its own personnel or those of national authorities where it operates. Data underscores the severity of the situation; a 2024 study from Heidelberg University indicated that 7.3 percent of refugees had been victims of trafficking, while human rights groups documented at least 80,865 pushbacks during 2025 alone.
In response to the findings, Ombudsman Teresa Anjinho issued four specific recommendations to bridge these operational gaps. She urged the agency to implement regular, comprehensive training for caseworkers focused on vulnerability and human trafficking. Additionally, she called for the creation of a formal mechanism that would allow asylum seekers to report errors made during their interviews, ensuring these reports are subject to a thorough assessment by the EUAA.
Highlighting the agency’s responsibility, the Ombudsman noted on social media that the EUAA must guarantee the protection of fundamental rights in all its activities, even when its role is strictly supportive. The watchdog’s intervention serves as a mandate for the agency to improve its procedural accountability and oversight of human rights standards in the field.
