BRUSSELS. The exchange of powers between Italy and Frontex for the Cutro shipwreck, which cost the lives of at least 94 migrants on the night between 25 and 26 February a year ago, is enriched by new important elements that raise further doubts about the conduct of the Italian authorities.
The first: at the time of the sighting of the boat, there were also two Italian officers in the agency’s surveillance center in Warsaw and “neither of them communicated that the case was of particular interest”. The second: when Frontex decided not to classify the sighting as a dangerous situation, “there was no objection” from the Italians present in the room, “nor was there a request to carry out further investigations”. The third: immediately after the shipwreck, when the search and rescue operation was launched, Frontex offered the availability of a plane to search the area, but “no written response was received”. The fourth: in retrospect, Frontex asked Italy for information on the monitoring activity undertaken after the report, but also in this case no replies were received.
The elements are contained in a report drawn up by the Frontex Fundamental Rights Office which The print was able to view. The document dates back to 17 November and underlines that, after the vessel was reported, Italy should have “imperatively” started a “monitoring or even assistance” activity because, despite the absence of signs of imminent danger, “Cases like this can quickly escalate into an emergency situation.” On the activities undertaken or not by the Italian authorities following the report by the agency, Frontex explains that it has no elements to judge them precisely because the requested information was not provided. For this reason he hopes that the judiciary’s investigation “will bring clarity”.
The names and functions of the two Italian “experts” cited in the document have been protected by “omissis”, but according to Frontex sources cited by “Euractiv” – the information site that first revealed the existence of the report – it would involve an officer from the Guardia di Finanza and one from the Coast Guard. The print contacted both bodies, but could not have a comment on the matter.
The document retraces all the key moments of that night, starting from the report of the vessel sighted by the “Eagle 1” plane at 10.26pm on 25 February 2023. «At the time of the sighting – we read – both Italian experts were present in the room” and were “observing the detection in real time.” «Neither of them – note Frontex officials – communicated to the team leader that the case was of particular interest».
In the report, sent to Rome at 11.03pm, all the information was detailed: navigation speed at 6 knots and sea force 4 (“moderate”), detection of a satellite phone call from the vessel towards Turkey, presence of a person on the ship’s deck, “possible presence of other people” under the deck based on the “significant thermal response”. This last observation “was provided in a timely manner”, even though the Frontex aircraft “did not have the means to independently establish” the possible presence of other people on board. Based on these elements, “in the absence of obvious signs of danger”, Frontex considered that the vessel was not in emergency. And “he received no objections or contrary advice from the Italian expert who was in the room”.
After the accident, when the Italian authorities activated search and rescue activities, in the early hours of the morning «Frontex offered air support, suggesting the early take-off of a surveillance vehicle». The Fundamental Rights Office “reviewed all correspondence” between the Frontex team leader and the Italian Maritime Coordination Center (MRCC), but “no written response was received” following the offer. The plane then took off many hours later, at 5.58pm, and reached the site of the tragedy at 8pm. After three hours of searches it returned to the base “without having found either bodies or survivors”.