Outgoing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (SYRIZA) won the general election that took place in Greece on 20th September with 35.46% of the vote and 145 seats. He drew ahead of Evangelos Meimarakis (ND) who won 28.10% of the vote and 75 seats. Golden Dawn (XA), a far right party came third with 6.99% of the vote and 18 seats. PASOK followed this with 6.23% and 17 seats, the Communist Party (KKE) 5.55% and 15 seats, To Potami (The River) a centrist party 4.09% and 11 seats, the Independent Greeks (ANEL), a populist right-wing party and member of the outgoing government coalition 3.63% and 10 seats, the Centrist Union (EK) 3.49% and 9 seats. Turnout was very low at 56.14%. Alex Tsipras indicated that he was going to continue his coalition with ANEL. He will have to implement the reforms promised in exchange for the third rescue plan of 86 billion € negotiated at the end of July.

More than 500,000 migrants were detected on the EU's external borders from January to August this year in comparison to 280,000 in 2014 announced the European Agency Frontex on 15th September. Record figures were observed for five consecutive months including 156,000 who entered the EU in August said the agency, responsible for the Union's external borders. The Greek islands also registered record numbers in August with 88,000 ie 11 times the figure in the same month in 2014. Nearly three quarters of the people coming from Turkey were Syrians.

On 18th September Moody's announced that it had taken down France's long term sovereign rating deeming that the country's growth prospects were due to remain low until the end of the decade. "The main driver of Moody's decision to downgrade France's government bond rating to Aa2 is the increasing clarity, in Moody's view, that French economic growth will remain low over the medium term, and the obstacle that this will pose for any material reversal in France's elevated debt burden in the foreseeable future."

On 14th September during her inaugural speech at the "EU Citizenship and Justice" Conference in Luxembourg, European Commissioner Vera Jourova launched a public consultation in preparation for the 2016 European citizenship report. Citizens will be able to give their opinion on-line regarding common values, rights, democratic participation within the EU. During her speech the Commissioner also stressed the importance of freedom of movement in the Union.

On 16th September MEPs adopted a non-legislative resolution, 408 votes in support, 182 against and 23 abstentions, on the Commission's 2016 work programme. They urge the Commission to show strong leadership and to have a clear political vision in order to rise to the challenges of energy supply, climate change, the transition to the digital economy, the creation of jobs, migration, the rule of democracy and fundamental law. The Commission will present and discuss its work programme 2016 with MEPs in Strasbourg on 29th October.

The Council has decided to extend the restrictive measures taken against Russia by 6 months in the wake of the latter's attack on Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. The freezing of capital and travel bans affecting 149 people and 37 Russian entities were extended until 15th March 2016.

On 15th September the 8th summit between the Republic of South Korea and the EU took place in Seoul. Korea was represented by President Park Geun-hye and the EU by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk and Cecilia Malmström, who represented the Commission. During the summit both sides agreed to complete the free-trade agreement adopted in 2011. They also agreed to step up political cooperation regarding climate change, the fight to counter terrorism, and relations with North Korea.

On 15th September the European Court of Justice declared that European countries could exclude citizens of other Member States from social benefits if the former remained out of work for too long. "The host Member of State can refuse to pay out any kind of benefit" if the citizen fail to find work after six months writes the Court in its press release. This decision is designed to prevent abuse. It aims to prevent people from turning to social tourism. The European Commission welcomed this decision qualifying it as a "major clarification."

As part of the G7 forum on 16th and 17th September German Chancellor Angela Merkel invited women from the economic and scientific areas, as well as from civil society to a discussion. She concluded that women must play an even greater role in politics, the economy and society. The German Chancellor added that society and the economy would not achieve success if gender equality was not achieved. The first issue in this dialogue addressed vocational training of women which is still the key to success and is a pre-condition for women's participation in the economy. Interviews also focused on involvement in political life and opportunities for women in the digital world.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades met British Prime Minister, David Cameron on 18th September in London. They discussed the Cypriot issue, EU reform, bilateral relations and energy. Mr Anastasiades would like the British leader to put pressure on Turkey which seems to have toughened up its stance regarding the difficult problem of settling the Cypriot issue.

The French President met his Italian counterpart in Modena on 18th September notably to discuss the migratory crisis in Europe which is in danger of running out of all control. He asked the 28 EU countries to help Turkey so that refugees already living there can remain there, whilst they wait for an end to the crisis in Syria. He hopes that during the European Council on 23rd September three decisions might be taken. Apart from helping Turkey, the Europeans will have to decide on the creation of "hotspots" i.e. reception centres for the registration of asylum seekers and "respectfully" return back to their country of departure those who do not have any right to asylum. Europeans must also work with countries in which there are already established refugee centres "which must receive a great deal more help" because "if the refugees leave the camps" it will be a movement that we shall no longer be able to control," he warned.

On 16th September 2015 COREPER gave its support to a Commission proposal to aid Greece optimise the use it makes of the EU funds and to improve the availability of liquidities in order to stimulate growth and creation jobs." This proposal aims to remedy a lack of available public funds to finance vital investments in Greece by increasing liquidities by around €2 billion and to ensure that the European structural and investment funds produce the desired effect as quickly as possible.

On 17th September Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and the President of the Italian Council Matteo Renzi met in Rome to exchange views over European current affairs. During a joint press conference Xavier Bettel expressed his support for Italy in the migratory crisis stressing that there was "no easy solution but one had to be found in which the causes of the crisis as well as the reception of the refugees could be taken on board in particular." The Luxembourg Prime Minister also met Pope Francis.

On 15th September the King of the Netherlands addressed Parliament. He encouraged "a serene, confident vision of the future, but without taking things for granted" and to continue with measures to counter unemployment, notably tax reform. He announced a package of 210 million € designed to improve services in care homes and to facilitate a more personalised approach "to ageing with dignity", an increase in childcare benefits, the creation of additional places for small children, the extension of paternal leave, the creation of 4,000 teaching posts in higher education and the release of funds of up to 345 million € for the armed forces.

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, under prosecution for corruption since July, is to face trial in the High Court of Justice, announced the Prosecutor's Office (DNA) which has completed its inquiry. 42 year-old Victor Pointa is the first head of the Romanian government to have to defend himself before a court whilst he is still in office. He is accused of 17 counts of forgery, of aiding tax fraud and money laundering," in incidents that date back to 2007-2011, whilst he was a lawyer. The head of the opposition Alina Gheorghiu deems that this situation "places Romania in a particularly difficult situation in terms of its relations with its international partners."

On 17th September the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) published its first opinion poll involving its members regarding the country remaining in the EU: 47 % would like to stay, 40.9 % would like to leave the EU and 10.7% remain undecided. This survey was published whilst two days earlier on 15th September the Trade Union Congress TUC, issued a "warning" to David Cameron's government that it should not take its support of remaining in the EU for granted, notably if it dismantles Europe's social aspects in its negotiations.

The Swedish government presented its draft budget 2016 on 21st September to the Riksdag. The key proposal in the budget is an improvement to housing in Sweden with 5.5 billion crowns being devoted to it. Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson indicated that "this was the biggest political investment ever in support of housing in Sweden". The second line of spending involves healthcare, followed by tax rebates for the retired.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) believes in its report published on 17th September that the respect of Human Rights in Crimea has "worsened rapidly" since its annexation in March 2014 by Russia. According to Michael Georg Link, the director of the Human Rights department for the OSCE, "the fundamental freedom of association, expression and movement have all been restricted by the authorities in Crimea [...] via the implementation of restrictive Russian laws and by the sporadic targeting of individuals, the media and communities which want to express other points of view in a critical manner."

According to the interim economic outlook published by the OECD on 16th September 2015 "economic recovery is progressing in the developed countries, but stagnation in international trade and a downturn on the capital markets is a burden to growth prospects in most of the major emerging economies." As a consequence the organisation is advocating continued macro-economic policies that support demand on a world scale. Regarding China the vital issue at stake will be to guarantee balanced, long term growth whilst remedying elements of weakness in the financial system.

According to first estimates by Eurostat the euro zone recorded an international goods trade surplus of 31.4 billion € with the rest of the world in July 2015 in comparison with 21.2 billion in July 2014. The EU recorded an international goods trade surplus of 12.9 billion € with the rest of the world over the same period in comparison with 1.2 billion in July 2014. Intra-euro zone and intra-EU trade progressed respectively to 147 billion € and 262.3 billion € in July 2015 ie +4% in both cases in comparison with July 2014.

The 31st Göteborg Book Fair in Sweden will be taking place from 24th to 27th September 2015. This event is considered to be the biggest literary festival in Scandinavia with the participation of 780 authors and conference participants from 31 countries. This year the guest of honour is Hungary.