Political instability in Greece intensifies, while refugees and migrants on Greek islands suffer

Over the summer, Greece has seen an increase in refugees arriving at the shores of Greek Islands. 7,000 people have arrived at the Greek Islands in August alone, bringing the number of refugees and migrants on the islands up to 24,000 people. However, the amount of people coming to Greece might further intensify, as the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced plans of sending refugees to Europe. The situation is expected to be considered at the United Nations General Assembly from September 17 until September 30.

News Highlights: EU plans for Syria, Libya, Yemen, New Italy-Libya deal, US sanctions Eritrea

This week’s news highlights include the outcomes of the EU Foreign Affairs Council held in Luxembourg this Monday, an investigation showing little evidence of the allegations of NGO connections with human smugglers in the Mediterranean Sea and an update of the arrivals in EU. A new deal between Italy and Libya on the Libyan Southern border was reached. Eritrea was put under new sanctions by the United States while the flow of people fleeing the country towards South Sudan is increasing.

EU Plan for Middle-East: humanitarian aid and regional rapprochement policy under the UN’s aegis

The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union started a week with the EU fully concentrated on the Middle-East peace and stabilisation processes. At the eve of the conference on the future of Syria, co-hosted by the UK and and the European Union in Brussels the 4th and 5th April, the Foreign Ministers dealt with the current crisis in Syria, Yemen and Libya.