Human rights organisations have urged the European Commission to uphold its obligation to oversee EU-funded migration facilities and ensure adherence to human rights standards. They express grave concern over the automatic detention of migrants, including unaccompanied minors, at the Samos Closed Controlled Access Center (CCAC), which is run by Greek authorities.
Reports from Amnesty International suggest that the detention practices employed at Samos CCAC are unlawful. Migrants are reportedly subjected to arbitrary restrictions that confine them to the facility, where living conditions are described as inadequate. Critics argue that these actions violate the EU Reception Conditions Directive, which demands individual assessments for migrants and guarantees essential rights.
The directive stipulates that migrants must receive adequate housing, food, healthcare, and education, yet rights groups highlight that the Samos CCAC fails to provide even basic hygiene and healthcare services. Detainees are living in an overcrowded environment, which exacerbates the spread of diseases due to unsanitary conditions.
The Samos CCAC receives financial backing from the EU’s Task Force Migration Management, which coordinates a coherent EU migration strategy. The European Commission’s funded actions are expected to reflect the EU’s commitment to upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms in all facilities.
A report by the Ombudsman in 2022 questioned the feasibility of upholding dignity and protecting the interests of vulnerable individuals in such dire circumstances, noting that significant improvements are necessary at the centre. Samos CCAC was designated as a migrant processing centre in 2021 as part of the EU Migration Pact, which was adopted in 2024.
Rights groups have condemned the automatic detention of migrants, especially unaccompanied minors, at the Samos Closed Controlled Access Center. They argue that detention practices contravene EU law and fail to provide adequate living conditions. Funding from the EU’s Task Force Migration Management is under scrutiny due to these violations, and a 2022 Ombudsman’s report calls for significant improvements.
In summary, rights groups are challenging the European Commission to actively monitor the treatment of migrants at the Samos CCAC, amidst allegations of unlawful detention and serious human rights violations. The facility’s current conditions highlight the urgent need for compliance with EU directives that protect migrant rights. Without intervention, the plight of vulnerable individuals, particularly children, remains at risk under the guise of migration management.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
