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The main updates are the following.
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Although victims rarely report ill-treatment incidents to the competent authorities [2]
FRA, Guidance on investigating alleged ill-treatment at borders, 30 July 2024, pp. 11–12.
, more cases are being brought to the attention of prosecutors. - Between January 2020 and December 2024, at least 135 criminal investigations were initiated in 12 Member States.
- Judicial authorities in Greece and Italy pressed charges in relation to the deadly shipwreck incidents in Pylos (June 2023) and Cutro (February 2023).
- Approximately half of the investigations were initiated in Greece.
- Many allegations concern excessive use of force, ill-treatment and theft. In six Member States, there were allegations of homicide. In two Member States, there were allegations of rape.
- Most cases continue to be closed at the pre-trial stage without the pressing of charges.
- The number of convictions remains low. Among the cases closed, there were four convictions: three in Hungary and one in Spain.
Table 2 lists the pending and closed criminal investigations of alleged ill-treatment at EU borders between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2024. Cases in which the judicial authority found no evidence to start an investigation are not included in the table.
In Latvia, for example, the Internal Security Bureau, which conducts criminal investigations following a complaint, reported to FRA that they reviewed 31 cases. In 19 of them a decision was taken not to initiate criminal proceedings. One case was referred to the public prosecutor and criminal proceedings were initiated. Three cases are still open. Some cases were referred to other bodies, for others the Bureau sent a written reply to the complainant.
Since the previous round of data collection in 2023, a new conviction has been recorded in Hungary concerning physical assault. According to data provided by the Hungarian police, one official was sentenced to one year imprisonment (suspended for three years) and fines were imposed on two other officials [3] Information provided by the Hungarian police in April 2025.
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In Greece, the Deputy Prosecutor of the Piraeus Naval Court pressed charges against 17 members of the Hellenic Coastguard in relation to the shipwreck off the coast of Pylos, which resulted in the death of at least 82 persons and left several hundred others missing (see FRA’s report Preventing and responding to deaths at sea – What the European Union can do). The charges include:
- causing a shipwreck,
- dangerous interference with maritime transport,
- failure to provide assistance,
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and exposure to danger [4]
Network of Social Support for Refugees and Migrants, Hellenic League for Human Rights, Greek Council for Refugees, Initiative of Lawyers and Jurists for the shipwreck of Pylos, Refugee Support Aegean et al. – Press release, ‘Pylos Shipwreck: Criminal prosecution for felonies against 17 members of the Coast Guard, including senior officers of its leadership’, 23 May 2025.
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The Greek Ombudsman, in its capacity as the National Mechanism for the Investigation of Arbitrary Incidents, had concluded an own-initiative investigation that found serious and reprehensible omissions by the Hellenic Coastguard [5]
Greek Ombudsman – Press release, ‘Findings of the Greek Ombudsman in relation to the Pylos shipwreck’, 3 February 2025.
. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy accused the Ombudsman of drawing arbitrary conclusions and acting with political motivation [6]
Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, ‘Statement of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy in relation to the press statement of the Ombudsman’, 4 February 2025.
. The Greek National Commission for Human Rights expressed deep concern, noting that the Ministry’s statement undermined the independence and role of the Ombudsman [7]
Greek National Commission for Human Rights, ‘GNHRC Statement for the need to respect the constitutionally enshrined supervisory role of the Independent Authorities’, 19 February 2025.
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In Italy, six officers from the coastguard and the financial police were charged with negligent shipwreck and multiple manslaughter in relation to the Cutro shipwreck, which claimed the lives of at least 94 people, including 35 children, off the coast of Cutro, Calabria, in February 2023 [8]
Information provided to FRA by legal actors in May 2025. See also ECRE, ‘ITALY: Opening of Cutro shipwreck trial – Court orders Italy to pay compensation to people held on coastguard vessel – Journalists’ union launches legal action against government over spyware hacking – NGOs condemn ‘illegitimate’ detention centres in Albania’, 13 March 2025.
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Few indictments were also issued in other Member States, such as Poland, mainly for causing injuries and harming the health of migrants [9] Information provided by the Polish authorities in April 2025.
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During the past year, FRA did not observe any structural changes aimed at improving the effectiveness of national investigations. In 2024, FRA commended Poland’s decision to assign all such investigations to a dedicated team of prosecutors in Siedlce (Lublin Voivodship) [10]
FRA, Guidance on investigating alleged ill-treatment at borders, 30 July 2024, p. 22.
. However, FRA has not received any update that would enable the Agency to assess the effectiveness of this initiative.