French government spokesman Olivier Ferrand announced that France has asked Europe to “speed up a decision” on Italy’s refusal to welcome the Ocean Viking ship in the Mediterranean with 230 migrants on board.
This comes after the rescue ship of the non-governmental organization “SOS Mediterranee”, operating off the coast of Libya, landed survivors for the first time in France.
This is an “exceptional” measure imposed by the “duty of humanity”, according to French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, and maritime law requires that this landing take place near the rescue area, i.e. between Libya and Italy.
Viran criticized Italy on BFMTV for its refusal to receive the ship, and said that “the unilateral decision is unacceptable and requires European responses”, noting that “the first response is humanitarian, and has been completed” with the docking of the ship on Friday at the port of Toulon, and also underlined that “the second response is to remind Italy of its obligations” and “if it refuses, every useful measure will be considered”.
Ferrand said France “asked Europe to speed up a decision on the measures due” at a time when “Italy is abdicating its responsibility towards its French neighbors and friends”.
In announcing Thursday its decision to allow the Ocean Viking to dock, French Interior Minister Darmanin revealed that France would suspend “with immediate effect” its commitment to welcome the 3,500 migrants currently in Italy.
On Friday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned France’s response, calling it “hostile, incomprehensible and unjustified”.
Italian authorities also confirmed that several countries have pledged since June to receive 8,000 immigrants to help Rome, but have since accepted only 117.
It is worth noting that 190 immigrants who disembarked from the Ocean Viking in France were on this occasion placed in a center in a closed and secure international waiting area, and the staff of the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons started to consider their asylum requests, while two were hospitalised, according to local authorities.
The Red Cross also helps them communicate with their families. The center was visited by numerous deputies, senators and representatives of the Toulon Bar Association, while associations expressed their regret at having placed immigrants in a closed centre.
