Swedish MEPs from the Renew and Socialists and Democrats (S&D) groups are lobbying to make a prominent critic of enforcement activities at the Greek border the EU’s next ombudsman.
Members of both parliamentary blocs want to see Sweden’s Jonas Grimheden succeed Ireland’s Emily O’Reilly in the senior role, internal communications seen by Brussels Signal show.
Grimheden is currently chief of Frontex’s Fundamental Rights Office.
He has used that position to criticise the activities of both Greek and EU border guards in their attempts to stem mass migration flows, arguing that some of these attempts have violated human rights.
“[O]ur Swedish Social Democratic delegation will sign the nomination of the Swedish candidate Jonas Grimheden. We will also urge the members of our party group S&D to do the same,” said an email circulated on September 25 by left-wing MEP Heléne Fritzon.
“As perhaps several of you have already done, our delegation has met Jonas Grimheden. With his long experience, it is clear that he stands up for Swedish values around openness, transparency and a good administrative culture, something we would like to see more of at EU level.”
The email was met with praise from Renew’s Abir Al-Sahlani, who announced she and her colleagues were also “collecting signatures” in parliament in support of Grimheden.
“I can really only agree and underline Jonas’ professionalism, competence and integrity!” wrote the Swedish Centrist Party politician.
“It has been clearly noticed, not least when he took the fight from within Frontex when it was discovered that the agency under the previous management was lenient with and allowed violations of human rights in its operations.
“We are also collecting signatures among Renew Europe’s members for Jonas’ candidacy,” she added.
Foreigners in Sweden commit a disproportionate amount of “benefit fraud,” research has found. @gunnaraxen https://t.co/2sh6Z1cdAb
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) August 13, 2024
