Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) France announced it would allow the Ocean Viking migrant ship to dock at the Port of Toulon, criticising Italy for turning back the vessel.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin criticised Italy’s decision not to allow the ship to dock as “selfish” and “reprehensible,” according to Reuters reporting on Thursday.
“In this context, France decided on an exceptional basis to make up for the Italian government’s unacceptable behaviour and to invite the ship to come to the military port of Toulon,” he added.
Darmanin stressed that the migrant ship was in Italy’s rescue zone and warned “there will be extremely strong consequences for the bilateral relationship.”
He announced France would not take in approximately 3,000 migrants from Italy, which Paris previously agreed to, and strengthen control of its border with Italy to make sure no migrants cross.
Italy rejected France’s criticism, stressing that Paris’ reaction highlights EU’s failure to tackle the migrant crisis.
Incomprehensible criticism
Matteo Piantedosi, Italian Interior Minister, pointed out in a statement that “France’s reaction to the request to take in 234 migrants, while Italy has taken in 90,000 this year alone, is totally incomprehensible in the face of constant calls for solidarity.”
Most migrants who cross the Mediterranean to get to the EU land in Italy and Spain, with the two countries calling on their EU counterparts to show solidarity.
Of the roughly 90,000 migrants who entered Italy this year, just 164 were relocated to other bloc members, according to UN data.
In recent days, four migrant ships carrying roughly 1,000 migrants applied to dock in Italy. Three carrying nearly 800 received approval from Italian authorities and the Ocean Viking eventually received the green light from France.
The Italian government pointed out that NGO-run migrant ships are a de-facto taxi service and threatened to fine them.
Fabienne Lassalle, deputy head of SOS Méditerranée NGO which operates the Ocean Viking, called on EU member states to coordinate their efforts better and stop “politicising” mass migration from North Africa.
Commenting on France’s decision to allow the vessel to dock, she noted “it’s a great relief tainted with a lot of anger.”
