On 23rd September, the European Commission published its action programme for the next six months for the management of the refugee crisis. This action has been split into four categories: operational measures, budgetary support, implementation of European regulations moving towards a strong system that will withstand the test of time. On the same day it offered to release 1.7 billion € in additional EU funds to cope with the influx of refugees. It also adopted 40 decisions to launch infringement procedures against 19 Member States for the incomplete transposition of certain legislative instruments which make up the joint European asylum regime.

On 23rd September the 28 Heads of State and government of the European Union met regarding the migratory crisis. They called for rapid work to be undertaken regarding the priority action put forward by the Commission. They asked that operational decisions be taken before the European Council meeting in October: response to refugee needs in the region; provision of help to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and other countries in rising to the Syrian refugee crisis, strengthening of dialogue with Turkey on all levels, provision of help to the Balkan countries to manage the influx of refugees, an increase in emergency financing for Africa and ensuring that the summit in La Valette (11th and 12th November) is adequately prepared, the strengthening of external border controls, response to requests for aid from front-line Member States, an increase in the Emergency "Asylum, Migration and Integration" Fund and also the Fund for Internal Border Security. Finally they called for further work to be done internationally to bring the war in Syria to an end and committed to do their share in this regard.

On 23rd September the British government unveiled its aid plan to a total of £115 million in response to the migratory crisis. This announcement was made by the Prime Minister during the European Council's emergency meeting where he reminded the other EU leaders to provide further funding in response to urgent humanitarian requirements in Syria and in the neighbouring countries. The UK's new financing plan includes £100 million in humanitarian aid in Syria and £14.5 million in aid and protection of displaced refugees including for those already in Europe.

According to the report International Migration Outlook 2015 published on 22nd September by the OECD, "for the first time since 2007 permanent migratory flows towards the OECD countries increased in 2014," and "are at their pre-crisis level" with 4.3 million permanent entries. Amongst the European countries Germany is consolidating its position as second destination country whilst France has dropped from third to sixth in terms of asylum requests.

On 24th September Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban explained his position regarding the migratory crisis. He declared that Hungary had two options: to protect its borders with a fence or to let migrants pass through on to Austria. Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann said that if Hungary could not protect its borders with fences then it would be preferable to let people pass. He called on Hungary to respect European law regarding the migrant crisis.

After a long meeting in Berlin between the Federal government and the representatives of the Länder on 24th September, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that Berlin was to release an additional sum of around 4 billion euro for the reception of asylum seekers next year, ie a total of 670€ per refugee per month. This will not take the shape of direct aid but a sum that will be allocated to the Länder which will then take care of the asylum seekers. Moreover Berlin and the Länder agreed that the Balkan countries were to be deemed "safe countries of origin" in order to step up the asylum request and return procedure. With reception estimated at 800,000 refugees in 2015, Germany is the European country which has received the most refugees. But Berlin is also advocating for greater solidarity across Europe.

The Austrian Parliament finally adopted a constitutional reform on 25th September allowing the State to impose on local communities the reception of a number of migrants that could potentially rise to 1.5% of their population. The measure that was adopted by a qualified two-thirds majority was approved by the left/right coalition in office, as well as the Greens. Austria, which has a population of 8.5 million, is planning on 80,000 new asylum requests this year. The limit of 1.5% might be raised if the migratory crisis continues states the bill.

Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic declared on 24th September that Serbia had sent, in agreement with Hungary, migrants towards Croatia since the borders with Hungary were closed. Given in the influx of migrants Croatia had closed its borders. However the Croatian Prime Minister explained that the closure had not been decided against Serb lorries but against the passage of the migrants. At the end of the day Croatia accepted re-open its border with Serbia which was affecting in its relations with Belgrade.

The number of job seekers registered with the Employment Agency (category A - people without work at all) rose by 20,000 in August in comparison with July ie +0.6% according to a study published on 24th September.

On 21st September the European Commission unveiled the EU Consumer Market Scoreboard 2015. The main lessons that have been learned are that consumers who buy abroad still face many obstacles, increased awareness of consumer rights is necessary, further development of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) promises more effective consumer redress, trust in product safety has been relatively stable over the years, with retailers consistently having more positive views than consumers.

On 22nd September the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) adopted the 2016-2020 framework for the EU's actions in terms of gender equality and women's emancipation in the context of the Union's external relations. It aims to help partner countries to achieve real results along the path to gender equality as well as to set new sustainable development goals (SDGs). It is subdivided into four pillars: the fight to counter all forms of violence done to women and young girls, economic and social emancipation, the strengthening of their voice and participation and the development of institutional culture.

The President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Mario Draghi, maintained on 23rd September during an audition with the European Parliament's Economic Affairs Committee that he "could not see any major threats to financial stability," likewise the appearance of any further speculative bubbles, in spite of extremely low interest rates. "I know that many of you watch the potential effects of low rates on financial stability carefully," he declared. "We pay great attention to the threats made to financial stability, but we cannot see anything like this emerging for the time being," he continued.

The 28 Healthcare Ministers met on 24th and 25th September 2015 in Luxembourg for a meeting devoted to dementia, the medical care of migrants, the impact of the directive on cross-border healthcare on patients' mobility and rights as well as the impact of fatty acids in foodstuffs. According to the ministers dementia is "a real, socio-economic challenge which is testing the viability of our healthcare systems, therefore requiring a multi-sectoral response. Moreover the issue of migrant health, the impact of migratory flows on Member States' healthcare systems cannot be ignored. Ministers were unanimous regarding the need to take on board all dimensions of public healthcare in all discussions related to the refugee crisis. This notably means introducing coherent, coordinated action policies. But it will be important to ensure equal access by refugees and migrants to healthcare systems and to strengthen the capabilities of healthcare infrastructures.

On 22nd September British Prime Minister David Cameron hosted French President François Hollande in London. During this meeting Mssrs Hollande and Cameron addressed the Syrian crisis, the Paris Conference on the Climate (COP21) and the areas that Mr Cameron would like to see reformed in Europe before the referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union.

Economists at the Credit Suisse published a study on 24th September which explores the possible end of globalisation with the present state of play, dominated by major American and Western groups, relinquishing its place to "a multipolar world" shared between America, Europe and Asia. The study entitled "Is globalization coming to an end? New research signals a possible shift away from globalization to a multi-polar world" foresees three possible scenarii. The first is that of globalisation continuing in its present configuration. The second explores a multi-polar scenario, marked by the rise of Asia and a stabilisation of the euro zone. In this hypothesis new international institutions might supplant the World Bank. The third possibility "more pessimistic but less likely" is that of a collapse of globalisation comparable to the situation in 1913 just before the outbreak of the First World War. In this case developments might include the slowing of economic growth and trade, a rise in protectionism or a currency war.

An exhibition "Celts: art and identity" was opened on 24th September (to 31st January 2016) at the British Museum in London. It explores the history of the Celts, revealing the complexity of the cultures that are defined as "Celtic". The exhibition covers 2,500 years of history from the Celts whom Ancient Greece saw as barbarians, to the revival of Celtic culture witnessed in the British Isles over the last 300 years. On display are shields, jewellery, swords, engrave stone crosses and enormous bronze armband weighing in at more than a kilo.

The "White Night" 2015 will take place on 3rd and 4th October in Paris. The town will open up several contemporary works to the public and is organising shows and conferences in public areas. Entitled "Atmosphère? ... Atmosphère!" it will focus on the climate, specifically the World Conference on Climate (COP21) that will take place at the end of November. Around 30 international artists will be taking part in this cultural event including Chinese artists Zhenchen Liu, Swiss, Zimoun, German, Friedrich van Schoor and Belgian Berlinde de Bruyckere.

The Kunsthaus Zürich is organising an exhibition devoted to Joan Miro from 2nd October to 24th January 2016. The exhibition entitled "Joan Miro - Wall, Frieze, Mural" will be presenting Miro's murals from the perspective of his work as a whole which will enable an understanding of his artistic career and more particularly a view of the ceramic fresco "Oiseaux qui s'envolent" on show permanently in the inner courtyard of the Kunsthaus.

The Folkwang Museum in Essen is organising an exhibition of work by self-taught artists from 2nd October 2015 to 10th January 2016. Notably there are paintings be Henri Rousseau, a leading figure in "naive art."