Italy and Malta clash for immigrants

This is not the first time that a leader of the far-right Italian party, the League party, accuses Malta of avoiding responsibilities when it comes to dealing with the ongoing influx of migrants from North Africa.

According to the ministry leading Salvin, on Thursday, Italian authorities had announced their maltese partners that a 13-immigrant ship was in the mountainous waters and needed rescue, as the vessel they sailed was out of fuel.

The same ship had arrived at Lampedusa in Sicily on Friday, and migrants had told Italian authorities that they were helped at sea by men in uniform “s of the coast guard” of Malta.

In the statement, Salvin called this “act hostile”.

Some EU member states do not want to know about migrants and bring them to us, while Brussels is threatening us with sanctions over our budget. We will not be afraid”, he said.

The new government in Rome that came to power in June has banned docks at its ports of rescue ships helping migrants.

On the other hand, British Interior Minister Michael Farrugia called on Salvin not to criticize Malta for not performing her duties, but to start seeing what Italy can do most in terms of safety of migrants at sea.

It is Italy that constantly fails to adhere to international research-saving conventions. Malta has always respected its dues”, Farugia said.