EU deploys more troops to Greek land border

An additional 100 border guards have been deployed to the Greek land border as part of a rapid intervention requested by Greek authorities, said the EU’s border and coast guard agency, Frontex, on March 13.

Athens’ request comes as they try to manage the flow of migrants from Turkey to its islands. Twenty-two EU Member States also committed technical equipment, including vessels, maritime surveillance aircraft and Thermal-Vision Vehicles.

“We stand here barely a week after the Greek authorities turned to Frontex to provide more officers and more equipment to help protect their borders, which are also our common EU external borders,” Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri said during the launch of the operation in the Greek town of Orestiada.

“This rapid intervention is an important operational milestone for Frontex, which is currently dedicated to the preparation of the European Border and Coast Guard standing corps.”

Prior to this deployment, 500 officers were previously sent along with 11 vessels and other equipment to Greece.

Frontex’s move will last two months and “could be extended further if needed.”

TMP _ 19/3/2020

Photo credit: Frontex Website

Photo caption: As part of Rapid Border Intervention Evros 2020, 100 border guard officers started their deployment yesterday at Greece’s land border