The economic "shock" of the pandemic could aggravate crises on
Europe's southern fringe, EU diplomats fear, amid other concerns on
Israeli annexation.
"From a political perspective, the impact of the pandemic may exacerbate the many existing crises affecting the [Middle East and North Africa] region," the EU foreign service said in an internal report on 8 May, seen by EUobserver.
The Syria war "may also see another wave of refugees towards Europe", it noted. "The tragedy of the conflict only deteriorates in Yemen," it added.
Other countries in the region also risked instability due to the "triple parallel shock on [falling] revenues, from oil, tourism, and remittances", the EU report warned.
"All this may result in increased risk of social upheavals, jeopardising security and stability in the region" and create "tensions between secularists and Islamists," it said.
"The plummeting oil price will have huge impact in Algeria," it noted.
"Iraq, due to the combination of political instability, insecurity, and low oil prices stands out as a country the EU should focus its attention on," it said.
"The pandemic can only worsen things in the protracted Libya crisis", it said.
Read more at: Pandemic 'shock' could destabilise Middle East, EU fears
"From a political perspective, the impact of the pandemic may exacerbate the many existing crises affecting the [Middle East and North Africa] region," the EU foreign service said in an internal report on 8 May, seen by EUobserver.
The Syria war "may also see another wave of refugees towards Europe", it noted. "The tragedy of the conflict only deteriorates in Yemen," it added.
Other countries in the region also risked instability due to the "triple parallel shock on [falling] revenues, from oil, tourism, and remittances", the EU report warned.
"All this may result in increased risk of social upheavals, jeopardising security and stability in the region" and create "tensions between secularists and Islamists," it said.
"The plummeting oil price will have huge impact in Algeria," it noted.
"Iraq, due to the combination of political instability, insecurity, and low oil prices stands out as a country the EU should focus its attention on," it said.
"The pandemic can only worsen things in the protracted Libya crisis", it said.
Read more at: Pandemic 'shock' could destabilise Middle East, EU fears
No comments:
Post a Comment