FRONTEX, the European Border and Coastguard Agency, is “attempting to sue its critics into silence,” human rights activists warned today.

Transparency campaigners Luisa Izuzquiza and Arne Semsrott of the German organisation FragDenStaat (Ask The Country) filed a freedom of information request to Frontex last year asking the agency what types of boats it has in the Mediterranean.

Ms Izuzquiza and Mr Semsrott eventually took Frontex to court after it continuously refused to provide them with the information.