Greek authorities rescued dozens of migrants off southern Crete on Monday, as the island remains at the centre of a growing migration route from Libya that has caused increasing concern in Athens.

A mission to Libya in an effort to stem migration was announced by EU Commission  head Ursula von der Leyen in a letter to the 27 leaders.

A total of 24 incidents involving boatloads of migrants - with a total of 1,130 people seeking to illegally enter Greek waters from the coast of Turkey - were recorded between the morning of June 24 and the morning of June 27 in the seas near Lesvos, Chios, Kos and Rhodes.