Tensions mount between Italy, France over migrant rescue ship

ROME (AA) – Italy’s policy of keeping its ports closed to ships carrying rescued migrants has raised tensions between Rome and Paris.

This came as Italy’s new coalition government led by Giorgia Meloni, who took office on Oct. 22, did not open its ports to European-based NGO ships that demanded a safe harbor for the migrants they rescued in the Mediterranean in recent weeks.

Italy later decided to allow some of the migrants to leave two of the ships, citing emergency health conditions.

Under the new decree pushed by hardline Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, Italy now applies a “selective” approach in deciding who can disembark from the charity boats.

Those who do not qualify as “vulnerable” will have to leave Italian waters and should be taken care of by the “flag state,” according to the new rules.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Thursday that the Ocean Viking ship, operated by the SOS Mediterranee, which has 234 people on board has been granted an “exceptional status” to dock at the military port of Toulon.

The Italian government’s insistence to not accept the ship is “unacceptable behavior,” he said at a news conference.

“France deeply regrets that Italy has decided not to behave like a responsible European state in dealing with this matter,” the French minister was quoted as saying by local media.