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"It is easy to blame Europe or Schengen for security failures in our Member States, and wave the illusion that retreating behind national borders somehow immunises against - often home-grown - terrorists", said the EP President Schulz in his opening speech before the European Council of 17-18 December dedicated to pressing issues, such as migration, counter terrorism and the British referendum. "If we want to preserve our freedom of movement, then we must act fast and decisively."

Welcoming the Security Council's unanimous adoption of a blueprint for peace in Syria, a senior United Nations official has called on all sides to immediately stop using sexual violence as a tactic in the fighting tearing the country apart.

European leaders holding a year-end summit on Thursday were urged to bury their differences over the migration crisis and restore the security of the 28-nation EU's crumbling borders.

Growing insecurity, the lack of political moves towards reconciliation and worsening humanitarian conditions in Burundi, a country that tops the Global Hunger Index, are highlighted by MEPs in a resolution voted by a show of hands on Thursday. They welcome consultations under the Cotonou Agreement that could lead to suspension of EU aid to the Burundi government, and ask the EU and its member states to consider re-directing non-humanitarian EU aid to civil society there.

UNICEF Special Coordinator for the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe and Regional Director for CEE/CIS Marie-Pierre Poirier met with mothers and children in a child friendly space in Opatovac, Croatia.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon receives the report of the External Review Panel looking into allegations of sexual abuse by foreign military forces in the Central African Republic.

Security Council holds its first ever meeting at Finance Ministers’ level.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses journalists at his end-of-year press conference.

More than 16 million babies were born in conflict zones in 2015 – 1 in 8 of all births worldwide this year – UNICEF said on December 17, a figure that underscores the vulnerability faced by increasing numbers of children.