Italy challenges France over migrants
Says Macron’s regime should be taking more
ROME — Italy escalated its quarrel with France over migration Wednesday, challenging it to take in more asylum-seekers and demanding an apology after the French president accused the new Italian government of irresponsible behavior for refusing entry to a rescue ship with hundreds of migrants aboard.
Interior Minister Matteo Salvini chided French President Emmanuel Macron by name during a speech before Parliament’s upper chamber, while Italian news reports said a meeting between Macron and Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte planned for Friday now was in doubt.
“I speak in the name of a government, but I also have the aim of speaking for a people who have nothing to learn from anyone about generosity, volunteerism, welcome and solidarity,” Salvini, the leader of the anti-migrant League party, said to applause in the Senate chamber.
Italy summoned the French ambassador for consultations and warned that diplomatic relations between the two European Union members had been compromised.
Italy has received both criticism and praise for turning away the Aquarius rescue ship over the weekend as it made its way across the Mediterranean Sea carrying 629 migrants. Rome says the rescue vessel’s passengers never were in danger.
Two Italian naval vessels are escorting the ship to Spain after the Socialist government of new Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered the Aquarius safe harbor Monday.
Salvini said France had taken in only a fraction of the 9,816 migrants it had pledged to accept under a 2015 EU relocation plan.
“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 and not just words,” Salvini said.
France has admitted 635 migrants under the terms of the plan, according to EU figures.
Macron on Tuesday blasted what he called Italy’s cynicism and irresponsibility in turning away the Aquarius. The French president’s office said France didn’t want to “start a precedent” that would allow some European countries to breach international laws and rely on other EU member states to take in migrants.