Rome and Berlin argue about boat refugees

migration

Rome and Berlin argue about boat refugees

Despite the new EU rules, Italy does not want to take back migrants who have reached Germany after arriving on Italy’s coast. The right-wing Deputy Prime Minister Salvini sets the tone.

The dispute between Germany and Italy about dealing with boat refugees from the Mediterranean is intensifying. The Italian deputy head of government Matteo Salvini announced at the weekend that his country would not take back a single “illegal immigrant” from Germany as long as German aid organizations were on the move in the Mediterranean. The Federal Government However, refers to existing EU regulations – including the new asylum and migration pact, which has been in force since this summer.

Italy’s right-wing three-party coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni justifies its negative stance by saying that for years German non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been taking refugees on board their ships who are or could be in distress on the Mediterranean and then bring them to Italian ports. According to information from Rome there have been 2,200 migrants since the beginning of the year alone. Some of them then travel on to Germany or other countries.

Actually, every migrant has to apply for asylum in the EU country they first enter. There have been repeated disputes about this in recent years, including between Germany and Italy, where a particularly large number of refugees end up because of its proximity to Africa and the Middle East. The EU’s hope was actually that the differences of opinion would end with the entry into force of the new Asylum and Migration Pact (GEAS). The dispute between Rome and Berlin However, it has now lasted the entire summer.

Meloni’s deputy Salvini now sharpened his tone again. At a meeting of his right-wing Lega party, the transport minister said: “Germany has no right to send back a single illegal immigrant to us as long as German NGO ships are sailing in the Mediterranean to bring thousands of illegal immigrants ashore in Italy and Europe.” As Interior Minister, Salvini had previously taken extremely tough action against boat refugees and aid organizations.

However, Salvini is by no means alone in Rome in saying no to repatriations. Prime Minister Meloni from the Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) party and the current Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi (non-party) also insist on a “balance”. The Italian side argues that according to maritime law, the laws of the country under which the ship is sailing apply to a ship. In a sense, Germany would be the first receiving country for boat refugees – and not Italy.