A team of journalists analysed internal documents on the camp's planning process, obtained from European authorities such as DG Home, FRA and EASO through the Freedom of Information Act.
The research shows that the EU and the Greek Ministry of Migration implemented structures in the camp that their own human rights agency had warned about, such as barbed wire fences around the camp, drones flying over the area during refugee transfers, cameras filming residents, and uniformed police officers and a private security firm controlling what happens. The possibilities to leave the camp are also limited. Furthermore, it was made into a “pilot project” that is to be copied EU-wide.
The investigation also focused on Kos, where a new camp is currently being built. It also examined conditions for detainees in the current camp’s detention centre. The research showed that many of these detainees are being held in breach of Greek and EU law.
This was done in collaboration with the Disinfaux Collective and FragDenStaat.
Photo credit: Elisa Perrigueur
