Event 1087

{
  "category": "Border",
  "confidence": "High",
  "country": "Unknown",
  "description": "Ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, concerns rise as Russia deploys military equipment and personnel from Syria to Libya's Benghazi region, tightening its hold. This movement coincides with a 173% increase in irregular migrant arrivals to Greek islands from eastern Libya, prompting Greece to deploy naval vessels to stem the flow. European officials, including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, warn of the destabilizing regional effects and the increased migratory pressure linked to Russia's involvement. EU calls for enhanced cooperation with Libyan authorities and continued support for their coast guard, despite concerns about criminal infiltration.",
  "event_time_utc": "2025-06-24T13:28:37Z",
  "evidence": [
    "EU leaders meeting for their summit in Brussels this week will again broach migration, with demands to step up returns, implement EU-wide asylum law, and shore up external borders.",
    "The Greek government announced plans to deploy two frigates and a third naval vessel off the coast of Libya to stem a sudden increase of irregular migrant landings on the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos.",
    "Italy's minister of foreign affairs, Antonio Tajani, warned Russia was moving a naval base in Syria to Libya, which would have a 'destabilising effect in whole Mediterranean area' with 'an incremental impact on migratory flows'.",
    "Russia moving equipment from Syria's Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base to Libya's Al-Khadim airbase near Benghazi, in eastern Libya.",
    "EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen noted a 173-percent increase of arrivals to Greece from eastern Libya.",
    "'With the political and security situation in Libya being extremely critical, political engagement by the EU and member states is crucial considering the geopolitical consequences of developments in Libya for the EU,' she said.",
    "More than 800 migrants have tried to reach Greece's southern islands from northeast Libya since Thursday.",
    "The European Commission demands more support for Libyan authorities and its coast guard despite past concerns that the coast guard is infiltrated by criminal gangs.",
    "European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert affirmed the need to maintain close cooperation and continue financial and operational support to the Libyan authorities, particularly regarding rescue operations."
  ],
  "extra": {
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "category_raw": "Migration",
        "evidence": [
          "EU leaders meeting for their summit in Brussels this week will again broach migration, with demands to step up returns, implement EU-wide asylum law, and shore up external borders.",
          "The Greek government announced plans to deploy two frigates and a third naval vessel off the coast of Libya to stem a sudden increase of irregular migrant landings on the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos.",
          "Italy's minister of foreign affairs, Antonio Tajani, warned Russia was moving a naval base in Syria to Libya, which would have a 'destabilising effect in whole Mediterranean area' with 'an incremental impact on migratory flows'.",
          "Russia moving equipment from Syria's Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base to Libya's Al-Khadim airbase near Benghazi, in eastern Libya.",
          "EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen noted a 173-percent increase of arrivals to Greece from eastern Libya.",
          "'With the political and security situation in Libya being extremely critical, political engagement by the EU and member states is crucial considering the geopolitical consequences of developments in Libya for the EU,' she said.",
          "More than 800 migrants have tried to reach Greece's southern islands from northeast Libya since Thursday.",
          "The European Commission demands more support for Libyan authorities and its coast guard despite past concerns that the coast guard is infiltrated by criminal gangs.",
          "European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert affirmed the need to maintain close cooperation and continue financial and operational support to the Libyan authorities, particularly regarding rescue operations."
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "headline": "Russia tightens Libya hold, sparking migration fears ahead of EU summit",
  "location_text": "Benghazi, Libya; Greek islands (Crete and Gavdos)",
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_1087_1764403922_bf05f10d.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1.0,
  "url": "https://euobserver.com/migration/arfba68b45"
}

{
  "source": "admin_quick",
  "tags": [],
  "url": "https://euobserver.com/migration/arfba68b45"
}