It was only a matter of time before Giorgia Meloni's new Italian Executive experienced its first diplomatic disagreements as a result of immigration. More than a thousand people rescued by four humanitarian ships have been waiting for days in the Central Mediterranean for a safe port to disembark, but the Italian government, led by the far-right Brothers of Italy, has refused to offer it, starting another conflict with the foreign NGOs that rescue migrants off the coast of Libya.
These are the German Humanity 1 from Sos Humanity, the Norwegian Ocean Viking from Sos Mediterranée, the Norwegian Geo Barents , from Doctors Without Borders, and Rise Above , from the German NGO Mission Lifeline. The issue has sparked a conflict with both Germany and Norway, after Italy has called on the flag states of the ships to take responsibility for the migrants they have rescued. The Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, has only promised to allow the disembarkation of those migrants who have humanitarian needs.
“If an NGO ship has a German flag, there are two options. Either Germany recognizes it and takes charge of it, or it becomes a pirate ship," Meloni said in an interview for journalist Bruno Vespa's book. And, if Berlin already asked Rome on Thursday to allow at least the 100 minors aboard the Humanity 1 to disembark, this Friday the Norwegian embassy in Italy raised its tone by saying that Oslo has "no responsibility" regarding the migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, and, although "it recognizes the strong contribution of Italy in the management of migratory flows", the "first responsibility in the coordination to guarantee a safe port for people in difficulty at sea lies with the State responsible for the assistance search and rescue area.
Faced with desperation due to worsening weather conditions and the lack of response from Italy and Malta, SOS Mediterranée launched an appeal for help to Spain, Greece and France. Paris has made itself available to welcome the 234 migrants rescued by the Ocean Viking for "a matter of humanity".
Meloni's vision is very similar to that of league player Matteo Salvini when he held this portfolio. They consider that migrants rescued by NGOs should only disembark in Italy if redistribution and reception in other European countries have already been agreed upon. The argument of the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, is that Italy is already taking care of all the others that arrive on its shores without being rescued by humanitarian organizations, which are many more.
According to Flavio di Giacomo, spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, only 15% of those arriving on Italian shores are saved by NGOs, while the remaining 85% arrive in Lampedusa after having escaped from the Libyan coast guard. autonomously or after the intervention of the Italian coast guard ships. "This controversy is an attempt by Italy to involve the EU more so that it intervenes with patrol operations at sea, which is true that it must be done," says Di Giacomo. At his premiere in Brussels to meet community leaders, Meloni assured that his priority will be "control of the external borders of the EU", to which he found "ears ready to listen".
