Greece is poised to transfer thousands of refugees from overcrowded camps on its Aegean islands to the mainland amid escalating tensions in the facilities and protests from irate locals. “The situation on the islands is difficult and needs to be relieved,” deputy minister for European affairs Nikos Xydakis told the Guardian. Under the plan, Turkey’s 80-million-strong population was to be given access to Europe’s border-free Schengen travel area in October. “We were promised 400 experts in asylum procedures but so far only have around 29 on the islands. “In the post-Brexit debate of how Europe will work, ‘flexible solidarity’ has become the new key phrase,” he said.

Source: The Guardian October 03, 2016 06:00 UTC