Ankara and Tripoli are stepping up energy exploration near Crete
| Greece faces migrant surge as Libya, Turkey intensify Mediterranean energy ties | | | | Graphic by Shane LaGesse [NurPhoto / Picture Alliance via Getty] | | A sudden uptick in the number of migrants arriving from Libya to Crete and Gavdos since the beginning of June has prompted European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to engage in a complicated regional stand-off.
As temperatures soar, the timing of the arrivals coincides with an agreement between Turkey and Libya to launch seismic surveys south of Crete aimed at finding energy resources.
The issue could quickly escalate in Athens – with Greece’s ruling New Democracy party reeling from a scandal involving the use of EU funds. Next week, von der Leyen is due to dispatch her migration commissioner for talks. | | |
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