Former Frontex Head Fabrice Leggeri Investigated for Crimes Against Humanity

The French judiciary has opened an investigation into Fabrice Leggeri, former director general of the Frontex border agency, on allegations of complicity in crimes against humanity and acts of torture. The ruling was dated March 18, 2026, and reported by Agence France-Presse on Tuesday, March 24. Leggeri, who led Frontex from 2015 to 2022, is currently a Member of the European Parliament representing the far-right National Rally party. The investigation stems from a complaint filed by human rights organizations over the agency's alleged role in migrant pushbacks and its cooperation with the Libyan coast guard during Leggeri's tenure.

Rights groups filed complaint over pushbacks and Libya ties The complaint was brought by two human rights organizations, the Ligue des droits de l'homme and Utopia 56, targeting Frontex's conduct under Leggeri's leadership. The allegations center on the agency's alleged involvement in the forced return of migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean, as well as its operational cooperation with the Libyan coast guard. Critics of those practices have long argued that returning migrants to Libya exposed them to documented abuse, detention, and torture. The Paris Court of Appeal opened the investigation following the complaint, according to reporting by Le Monde. The case represents one of the most significant legal challenges yet to the conduct of a senior EU border management official.

Leggeri resigned in 2022 after OLAF fraud inquiry Leggeri resigned from Frontex in April 2022 following an investigation by OLAF, the EU's anti-fraud office. His departure came amid broader scrutiny of Frontex's operations, including allegations that the agency had failed to properly report or prevent illegal pushbacks at European borders. After leaving the agency, Leggeri moved into politics, announcing in February 2024 that he would stand as the third candidate on the National Rally slate for the European Parliament elections. He subsequently won a seat in the European Parliament, aligning himself with Marine Le Pen's party. The transition from EU agency chief to far-right lawmaker drew considerable attention given the ongoing controversies surrounding his time at Frontex.

Frontex was established in 2004 and significantly expanded its mandate and budget following the 2015 migration crisis, when Leggeri took over as director general. The agency faced repeated accusations throughout his tenure of tolerating or facilitating illegal pushbacks — the practice of turning back migrants at sea or land borders without processing their asylum claims — which human rights groups argue violates international law. OLAF concluded its investigation into Frontex in 2021, finding evidence of serious misconduct including the suppression of incident reports. The 2022 resignation of Leggeri marked a turning point in the agency's governance, prompting structural reforms under new leadership.

Investigation marks rare judicial scrutiny of EU border policy The opening of a formal judicial investigation in France places Leggeri under the scrutiny of an examining magistrate, a procedural step under French law that does not constitute a conviction or formal charge but signals that investigators have found sufficient grounds to proceed. The case is being watched closely by migration law experts and civil society organizations who have sought for years to establish legal accountability for pushback practices at EU borders. Leggeri's current status as a sitting Member of the European Parliament adds a political dimension to the proceedings, as MEPs hold a degree of immunity that may complicate the judicial process. The investigation also arrives at a moment of heightened debate across Europe over border enforcement methods and the legal limits of cooperation with third-country coast guards. No confirmed information is available on whether Leggeri has issued a public response to the March 18 ruling.