The NGO ship “Ocean Viking” has been on its way to France with refugees since Tuesday. Although Paris had agreed to take the people in, the Italian government is now being criticized. The country benefits unilaterally from European solidarity.
“There are rules in Europe that you have to respect. The rule in Europe is solidarity and it says that the state with the nearest port must pick up the ship. In this case it is Italy,” said French Foreign Minister Olivier Dussopt. The French Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, assessed the situation in a similar way in an interview with the TV channel France 2. He also spoke of a “European rule” to be observed.
His colleague, Transport Minister Clement Beaune, emphasized in an interview with the broadcaster LCI that the refugees would have to roam at sea for days and weeks because of Italy’s position. “A solution must be found that is in line with the European agreements.”
The NGO ship “Ocean Viking” has been en route from Italy to France since Tuesday with 234 refugees. The case caused tensions between Rome and Paris. Talks are also underway with Germany, as the NGO ship “Humanity 1” sails under its flag.
Meloni: Have an immigration emergency
The Italian government had not assigned a port to several ships carrying rescued refugees, but then admitted the majority could go ashore. Prime Minister Georgia Meloni wants to crack down on accepting migrants. She recently spoke of an “immigration emergency” that was a European matter.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
