Italy threatens to turn away migrant boats as it faces new inf lux
ITALY has threatened to turn away charity boats packed with rescued migrants because it is struggling to cope with the huge numbers arriving from Africa.
With almost 12,000 expected to reach Italian shores in coming days, officials in Rome warned that they are prepared to take drastic action to stop the influx.
In a deepening row with the EU over its position as the frontline of Europe’s migration crisis, Italy warned that the current situation is ‘unsustainable’. The threat to ban boats operated by charities comes as they are accused of running a ‘taxi service’ across the Mediterranean.
The proposal by ministers could see boats not flying the Italian flag or not belonging to an official EU-endorsed mission refused docking rights.
The charities and other non-governmental organisations are accused of colluding with people smuggling groups in Libya. But the NGOs say this is a political smear and that, if they did not help, the numbers of deaths on the route would be even higher.
A record number of migrants are expected in Italy this year. Figures compiled by the UNHCR show that almost 78,742 have arrived in Italy so far compared to 67,702 over the same period in 2016 – a 16 per cent increase.
Italy’s EU minister Sandro Gozi warned that ‘ Italy is really reaching its limit’. There is growing anger in Rome that other EU countries have not acted on an agreement to take in some asylum seekers to ease pressure on Italy.
Brussels had begun legal action against Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic for refusing to take an agreed share of refugees.
Italian premier Paolo Gentiloni said his country was ‘ asking certain European countries to stop looking the other way, because we cannot go on like this’.
Officials in Rome say they
‘Desperate way to get attention’
face a bill of billions of pounds every year to deal with the thousands of asylum seekers already in Italy. While many of them have fled warzones, around 40 per cent have their asylum requests rejected – but deportation rules mean many are left in Italy for months.
Brussels has said it was ready to increase financial support for Italy and Commission president Jean- Claude Juncker yesterday urged other EU countries to do more to help.
Threats to ban charity boats come after the ruling centreleft lost heavily in local elections at the weekend to centre-right and anti-immigrant parties. Critics say the blockade will be difficult to enforce. One expert said: ‘It sounds more like a desperate way to get Europe’s attention.’