Malta to let rescue boat dock with 141 migrants aboard

Malta on Tuesday agreed to let a private rescue ship dock on the island, with the 141 migrants it is carrying to be distributed among five fellow European Union nations in what was described as a “responsibility-sharing exercise.” The migrants were plucked to safety by the aid boat Aquarius in two separate operations in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya on Friday. The boat was reported to be about 50 kilometres (35 miles) from Malta on Tuesday afternoon when the deal was announced. “Malta will be making a concession allowing the vessel to enter its ports, despite having no legal obligation to do so,” the Maltese government said in a statement. It said that Malta will serve as a logistical base and that all the migrants aboard will be distributed among France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain. Previously this summer Malta had allowed another private aid group’s rescue vessel to dock, also on condition other nations take the migrants, although in that case Malta also agreed to take some. Malta also noted that on Monday it had rescued 114 persons at sea, with 60 of them destined to go to other EU nations as part of co-operation in the bloc. Aquarius had been waiting for safe harbour after appealing to Italy and Malta. Italy’s new populist government is refusing to allow any private rescue ships to dock, saying the country has done more than its share by allowing some 600,000 rescued migrants to disembark in previous years. Malta said the dilemma over the fate of the migrants saved by Aquarius was resolved following French-Maltese discussions, and the agreement “with the support of the European Commission” to participate in a “responsibilitysharing exercise.” Italy’s ruling coalition, which includes an anti-migrant party, has been lobbying for just such co-operation since it took power in June. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted, thanking Malta “for its humanitarian gesture” and saying France offers its full solidarity. “There’s no alternative to co-operation,” Macron said. Portugal, which will take 30 of those aboard Aquarius, was the first country to say it could take in some of the migrants.