Moghrin calls for “more responsibility” for migrants

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Federica Moghrini, called on member states to take on “more responsibilities” for rescue migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.

The issue is today on the agenda of a meeting of EU defence ministers in Vienna.

Italy's populist government has taken a tough stance on migration, refusing to land survivors at sea unless other EU member states are offered to take them.

The issue threatens Operation Sofia, an EU naval operation for fighting trafficking with people off Libya's coast, which should last until the end of the year.

When it was established in 2015, member states agreed that each saved immigrant would be admitted to Italy.

Rome now seeks to change these rules, threatening to close its ports.

Moghrin, who himself is Italian, said managing the influx of migrants is a common European issue and not a single country.

This is why we have an EU operation. Even if it is a very difficult discussion, it would be good if member states consider taking more responsibilities in this direction”, Moghrin said ahead of informal talks in Vienna.