Allegations of ill-treatment and abuse against migrants and refugees at EU borders continue. Even though more incidents are now raised with judicial authorities, there have been no structural changes to improve the effectiveness of national investigations, finds the latest update from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). The findings underline the need to ensure more effective investigations of rights violations at borders.

Read the update

In July 2024, FRA issued guidance on how to make such investigations more effective. It proposed concrete steps such as robust monitoring and stronger accountability.

FRA’s latest update on investigations of alleged ill-treatment at EU borders  points to at least 135 criminal investigations in 12 EU countries between 2020 and 2024, with charges pressed in Greece and Italy following the two shipwrecks in Pylos and Cutro 2023. 

Despite persistent allegations of excessive use of force, ill-treatment and other rights violations at the EU borders, accountability remains limited. Since 2020, there have been only four convictions related to such cases across the EU – three in Hungary and one in Spain. While at least 131 disciplinary investigations have been initiated, only 13 have resulted in sanctions. Notably, only five new sanctions have been recorded since FRA’s previous data collection. This underscores a continued gap between reported abuses and tangible consequences. 

The update also looks at investigations by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). Frontex is reviewing more complaints and serious incidents of fundamental rights violations in their operations. This has led to Frontex issuing recommendations for preventive and protective measures in their operations. 

In addition, the update reflects developments from the European Court of Human Rights. In the last four years, its judgments point to ineffective national investigations into migrants’ rights violations at the borders. Some 30 cases were still pending before the Court, as of 1 July 2025.

FRA’s update covers the state of play of investigations of alleged ill-treatment at the EU borders until the end of 2024.