CONCLUSION Conclusion The Independent Authority continues on its mission with complete dedication, determined to further reinforce and constantly expand its dynamic and active role as a national mechanism of external monitoring in operations of return/readmission, according to Directive 2008/115/EC, which did not cease to constitute a key point of the migration policy of the European Union again during 2017. The attempt at intensification of returns is evident from the revised handbook of the European Commission that is analysed above. In parallel, the relative procedures reveal, nevertheless, various challenges for the implementation of the fundamental rights in practice. At the level of the national mechanism, the external monitoring revealed also during the year 2017 the permanent problems that operations of forced returns produce, but also the gradual improvement of specific parameters of the followed procedures by the Greek Police, both in Joint European flights from Athens as well as in readmissions from the sea borders to Turkey. This positive outcome, in a difficult field of control of borders for fundamental rights, constitutes tangible proof that the function of the Ombudsman as a national mechanism for monitoring of procedures and operations of forced returns, and also as an agent of protection of fundamental rights, can contribute decisively to the necessary transparency of administrative action, the implementation of international, EU and national legislation and to guaranteeing respect for fundamental rights. 28