Key Developments
On 25 May, the Greek Alternate Minister of Migration Policy, Yannis Mouzalas, met the Regional Governor of Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and agreed that the refugee population present in Greece will be distributed fairly across the country by September. The Minister stressed that many current hosting centres in the Greek region of Macedonia will be closed and replaced by new sites across Greece, where refugees will be transferred to.
In Athens on Tuesday 24 May, the Vice Commandant of the US Coast Guard met with the Chief of the Greek Armed Forces to discuss Washington’s intention to contribute to patrols in the Aegean aimed at curbing irregular migration. This discussion comes after the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, expressed Washington’s interest in contributing naval forces to NATO’s mission in the Aegean. The US vessel is to join four NATO ships currently patrolling the Aegean, including the British Cardigan Bay, the Turkish Bodrum, the German Bonn, and the Dutch Van Amstel.
On the occasion of the G7 Summit to be held in Japan on 26 and 27 May, EU leaders are expected to focus their discussions on migration and refugee issues, among other topics. In particular, the G7 is expected to call for a global response to the current challenges, and to commit to increased global assistance. In a joint statement ahead of the Summit, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, called on G7 Leaders to meet such expectations.
However, they also stated that “because of geography, the most responsibility is and will continue to be placed on Europe”. Tusk also called on G7 Leaders to encourage other donors to also increase their efforts and, as well as to foster the establishment of resettlement schemes and other legal pathways around the world.
Death at Sea
The Italian Navy reported that a shipwreck occurred on Wednesday, 25 May, off the coast of Libya.
During routine surveillance in the Strait of Sicily, the Navy vessel Bettica identified a boat in precarious conditions with approximately 500 people on board.
The boat capsized due to overcrowding and instability.
Rescue operations began immediately after, while the nearby Navy ship Bergamini sent a helicopter and naval rescue vessels. Over 500 people were rescued and seven bodies were recovered. Both the survivors as well as the bodies of the seven drowned people were taken aboard the Bettica.
