French Judge to Investigate Former Frontex Chief for Alleged Crimes Against Humanity

A French judge is set to investigate claims made by a non-governmental organization (NGO) that Fabrice Leggeri, the former head of the European Union border agency Frontex, may have been complicit in crimes against humanity. This announcement came from a judicial source to AFP on March 24. Leggeri, a former French civil servant, faced numerous accusations during his seven-year tenure at Frontex, which began in 2015, primarily regarding the agency's role in the pushbacks of asylum seekers. In 2024, the Human Rights League (LDH) submitted a complaint against him, asserting that he encouraged Frontex staff to assist in the interception of migrant boats by Libyan and Greek authorities. Following a ruling from the Paris Court of Appeal, which found sufficient grounds to pursue a judicial investigation based on the LDH complaint, the judicial source confirmed that the investigation would move forward. Leggeri, currently serving as a member of the European Parliament for the far-right political party Rassemblement National, has reportedly not been notified of this judicial decision and has chosen not to comment further on the matter. The issue at hand is especially critical, as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that approximately 34,000 asylum seekers have died or gone missing since 2014 while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea – considered the deadliest migration route worldwide. For the first time, French investigating judges will scrutinize the potential criminal liability of Fabrice Leggeri in relation to the tragic consequences of migration policies that have led to numerous deaths in the Mediterranean, predominantly affecting vulnerable groups such as women and children. Emmanuel Daoud, a lawyer for the LDH, expressed that this investigation marks a significant moment in examining the accountability of those responsible for the ongoing humanitarian crisis at sea. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2