Lawyers challenging Frontex’s actions in the Mediterranean have been barred from attending a significant event focused on maritime safety, raising concerns over transparency and accountability within the EU border agency.

A closed-door meeting titled ‘Saving Lives at Sea’ is set to take place in Brussels, organized by Frontex and the UN human rights office. However, lawyers from Front-lex, a civil society organization based in the Netherlands, have reported being denied access to the event, which is scheduled for Thursday, June 25.

Iftach Cohen, a lawyer representing Front-lex, stated that Frontex was responsible for blocking their participation, citing discomfort from the high commissioner regarding the situation. This exclusion comes amid ongoing legal actions against Frontex, which is accused of complicity in the interception and return of migrants by the Libyan coast guard in the Mediterranean.

In a related development, a recent ruling by the EU court has favored the lawyers, establishing that Frontex cannot claim ignorance regarding its operations and must disclose critical data. This landmark decision could significantly alter the landscape of accountability for the EU border agency, potentially empowering legal challenges against its practices.