EU chief praises Greece as ‘shield’ of Europe after police attack refugees at border

European Union leaders have praised Greece as the “shield” of Europe against refugees, despite emerging evidence of inhumane and violent treatment of migrants by Greek security forces at the country’s border.

Footage from Greece in recent days has shown police using tear gas on refugee camps and firing into the sea at vessels carrying people to Europe’s shores – in apparent contravention of international refugee conventions.

But Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president praised the Greek government and pledged to €700m (£609m) in EU funds for the country to help crack down on migrants and refugees.

“This border is not only a Greek border, it is also a European border… I thank Greece for being our European aspida in these times,” Ursula von der Leyen said, using the Greek word for a “shield”.

Apparently unconcerned by the humanitarian violations, Ms Von der Leyen said: “I thank the Greek border guards and coast guards, the police, servicemen and servicewomen and Frontex for their tireless effort.”

The Commission president announced on Tuesday that the EU’s border management agency, Frontex, would also scramble “a rapid border intervention” squad that includes six coastal patrol boats, a sea-going vessel, two helicopters, one plane, and an extra 100 border guards.

Greece has seen an influx of migrants and refugees arriving on its shores after Turkey announced at the weekend it was “opening the doors” and allowing refugees from Syria to continue through to Europe. Security forces have reacted often violently to the new arrivals, attracting condemnation from human rights groups.

Kyriákos Mitsotákis, Greece’s conservative prime minister, said Turkey had become “the official trafficker of migrants to the European Union”, in an escalating war of words between Athens and Ankara.

Mr Mitsotákis’s government has been criticised by the UN refugee agency for suspending all asylum applications for one month – an apparent breach of international law.

“Persons entering irregularly on the territory of a state should also not be punished if they present themselves without delay to the authorities to seek asylum,” the UNHCR said in a statement.

Amnesty International said in a statement that the “inhumane measures” deployed by the Greek state were an “appalling betrayal of Greece’s human rights responsibilities and will put the lives of people fleeing violence at risk”.

“Everyone has a right to seek asylum. Deporting people without due process could mean sending them back to the horrors of war or expose them to grave human rights violations, breaching the fundamental principle of non-refoulement,” said Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office.

“The reckless measures being taken by the Greek authorities are a blatant breach of EU and international law that will put lives at risk. People seeking asylum are once again being used as bargaining chips in a callous political game.”

She added: “Greece must refrain from using excessive force and ensure search and rescue operations can operate at sea. People who are seeking asylum in Greece should be helped, not treated as criminals or a security threat,” said Eve Geddie.

“EU member states must also do far more to share responsibility for asylum seekers arriving in Turkey, both through financial support and ensuring safe pathways to Europe.

“The European Commission must also urgently coordinate any support that might be required to Greece and Bulgaria, to ensure asylum seekers have access to adequate reception and asylum procedures.”

Mr Mitsotákis called for more “effective burden sharing” from other EU countries, some of whom have refused to take any refugees.

In a dig at countries like Hungary, who have refused migrant quotas, he said: “We cannot afford to have that many free riders within the European Union who pass the burden of managing the external borders to those countries who by virtue of geography happen to be placed where they are while at the same time not assuming any responsibilities in terms of managing this problem internally.”

Ms von der Leyen was last year accused of adopting “fascist rhetoric” after she created a new job in her Commission called the “Commissioner for Protecting our European Way of Life” – to be in charge of migration policy.