This online article was published by the group Justice for Shoaib Khan on Facebook on 20/01/26.
FRONTEX OUT OF CYPRUS
Image: Banner at the Aglantzia roundabout by the Filoxenia center
From 19–21 January, the Management Board of Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, is meeting at the “Filoxenia” Conference Centre. The board consists of representatives from the EU member states' border authorities and the European Commission. It is the primary body overseeing the agency’s operation.
Frontex has played a leading role in the militarisation of European borders and executes the EU's racist and deadly migration policies, in cooperation with member states. In recent years, it has expanded massively in funding and geographically. Frontex has repeatedly been documented as contributing to violence at Europe’s borders, including being present during pushback operations in Greece, and through cooperation with the so-called Libyan Coast Guard, facilitating pull-backs in the central Mediterranean that return people to conditions where they face torture. Frontex is also aiming to establish a standing, armed border force of 10.000 officers by 2027.
Frontex's actions are not “unfortunate” or part of a “malfunctioning program”, it is the system working fully as intended- a system rooted in racism, violence, and oppression.
Frontex officers have been deployed in Cyprus since 2019. They have been involved in the collection of biometric data at Pournara, stationed at airports for border checks, gathering and processing intelligence through their central offices, and financing and carrying out forced and so-called “voluntary” returns. Through these operations, Cyprus has conducted mass deportations, and is now promoting these strategies to other EU member states.
On the 20 - 21 the Cyprus police will further host an “Informal Meeting of JHA Counsellors”, where the promotion of “voluntary returns” will be discussed.
This is taking place as the EU is planning to pass a new Deportation Regulation aimed at enabling EU-wide, mass deportations and incarceration.
We do not want Frontex deployed in Cyprus.
We do not want Lefkosia to host meetings where Frontex and national border guards, that are responsible for pushbacks, deaths, and disappearances, gather to plan and discuss.
Abolish Frontex.
Solidarity with Migrants.