Italy hits back at Macron’s criticism over migrant ship
ITALY has challenged Paris to take in more asylum-seekers and demanded an apology after the French president accused the new populist Italian government of cynical behaviour by refusing entry to the Aquarius rescue ship, with 629 migrants on board.
Italy summoned the French ambassador for consultations and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini chided French President Emmanuel Macron by name in a speech.
Mr Salvini said France had taken in only a fraction of the 9,816 migrants it had pledged to welcome under a 2015 EU relocation plan to relieve frontline countries Italy and Greece of the burden of caring for newly arrived migrants.
To applause in the Senate, Mr Salvini added: “So I ask President Macron to pass from words to action and tomorrow morning welcome the 9,000 France promised to welcome as a sign of concrete generosity.”
Italy has defended its decision to refuse to allow the Aquarius rescue ship to dock, saying it has never abandoned the ship
Spain stepped up and offered the Aquarius safe harbour in Valencia after Italy and Malta both refused. The stand-off over the Aquarius appeared a clear tactic by Italy’s new government to force Europe’s hand at the upcoming summit of EU leaders in Brussels, from June 28-29.
For years, Italy has complained that it has been left largely alone to manage Europe’s migrant crisis, but the new government says its tactics have finally got the point across.
Mr Salvini has accused aid groups of operating taxi services for Libya-based human traffickers, and said Italy will now refuse their rescue ships entry.
Italian maritime vessels, however, are still docking in its ports: yesterday, an Italian coast guard vessel docked in Catania, Sicily, with 932 migrants aboard.
The Diciotti was greeted in Catania’s port by activists criticising the new policy, with a banner draped at the port saying: “Stop the attack on refugees.”
French President Emmanuel Macron had blasted what he called Italy’s cynicism and irresponsibility in turning away the Aquarius, which is operated by the humanitarian group SOS Mediterranee and the Frenchfounded Doctors Without Borders.