Tspiras hopes ‘Club Med’ to soften EU austerity

Greece hosted on 9 September 2016 a mini-summit gathering a group of Southern European member states. The so-called 'EU-Med' summit was held with the presence of the leaders from France, Italy, Portugal, Malta and Cyprus. Spain was represented by State Secretary for the European Union Fernando Eguidazu.

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras hoped it could promote a left-wing answer to the European Union's multiple crises, leading up to the informal meeting of EU leaders in Bratislava on 16 September 2016. It was also seen as an attempt to prevent other regional groups from monopolising the debate around the future of the European Union, following a major economic crisis, increasing scepticism around the European project and the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU.

• Primary Source

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ESO: Background information: Brexit pushes EU towards multiple unions http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-pushes-eu-towards-multiple-unions/

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The Wall Street Journal, 09.09.16: Mediterranean’s EU Members Call for Growth Initiatives http://www.wsj.com/articles/mediterraneans-eu-members-call-for-growth-initiatives-1473444607

France24, 09.09.16: Southern EU leaders call for revised migration rules http://www.france24.com/en/20160909-southern-eu-states-gear-tense-talks-migration-debt

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