The situation on the Greek-Turkish border, not all that far from Croatian territory, is gradually becoming worse and worse after Turkey opened its border to allow migrants to head towards Greece, and thus towards the EU. Frontex has now stepped up its game and the Croatian Interior Ministry has made itself available.
With numerous pieces of footage being released every now and then showing violent clashes between the authorities on the border and migrants seeking to enter the EU, it’s difficult to remain neutral.
Owing to the escalating situation, Frontex has asked the Croatian Interior Ministry (MUP) to send another border patrol vessel down to the Aegean sea to attempt to prevent the entry of illegal migrants into the European Union (EU).
As Morski writes on the 7th of March, 2020, Croatia has responded to Frontex’ request for another vessel to be deployed in the Aegean sea will soon send eight police officers, vehicles and equipment to the Greek-Turkish land border at their request, according to a recent report from Jutarnji list.
The officers, vehicles and other equipment from the Croatian Interior Ministry will be deployed as part of a Frontex force tasked with preventing illegal migrants from entering the territory of the European Union. In addition to manpower, Croatia has reported to Frontex the possibility of it sending another police ship complete with eight crew members into the Aegean sea to join in with Operation Poseidon.
This all regards a large Frontex operation to protect Greece’s maritime border with that of Turkey, which is not an EU member state. At the moment, one Croatian police ship is already located down in Greece. Immediately after the seemingly provocative Turkish decision to open their border towards Greece for the illegal migrants, Frontex stepped up its forces along Greek borders in an attempt to protect EU territory.
The organisation boasts a rapid intervention force of 1,500 people, and all EU member states are required to declare forces for the unit. Croatia has declared about seventy of its police officers, and Frontex has so far requested eight people from the country, Jutarnji writes.
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