On Thursday 29 June, the European Commission attempted to provide assurances to Italy and promised it more support, even though on 28 June the country had threatened to block access to its ports to vessels rescuing migrants off the Mediterranean coast. Italy has taken in more than 12,000 migrants rescued of the Libyan coast between Sunday and Tuesday, including 5,000 migrants on Monday alone. It has informed its European partners that it is now stretched to full capacity.
Italy has been...