Ankara
ATHENS
Frontex has expanded its patrol operation to the Aegean Sea where it continues to face massive migratory pressure in 2015, the EU border agency announced on Tuesday.
The joint operations of Frontex and the Greek coastal guards, called the Poseidon Rapid Intervention, began on Monday and will continue until March. 31.
Frontex deployed 15 vessels for the operations in Greece’s Lesbos, Chios, Kos, Samos and Leros islands, which have been experiencing a massive refugee influx.
Frontex also declared that it will deploy "additional vessels, vehicles and other technical equipment to assist the national authorities in the management of the unprecedented migratory pressure at the Greek external borders".
The number of border guards deployed will gradually increase to over 400 officers.
According to a former Frontex statement, the new personnel, along with interpreters and forged document experts, will assist in identifying and fingerprinting migrants.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras formerly declared that Athens expected more support from the EU, requesting the number of Frontex guards in the Aegean Sea reach 1,600.
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