While a meeting in Paris on Monday 22 July between EU interior and foreign affairs ministers will try to advance work on a temporary disembarkation scheme, with a possible new involvement by Italy in Operation Sophia, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has again expressed his opposition at this stage and did not support it at an informal ministerial meeting in Helsinki on Thursday 18 July.
Italy and other countries “challenge the idea of a first safe port of call for migrants and imagine that the redistribution of refugees alone leaves only illegal migrants, difficult to expel, to the first countries of arrival ”, said the Italian in a statement.
On Thursday, in Finland, several Franco-German proposals had indeed fuelled the discussion (see EUROPE 12299/1). They aim to bring together on Monday, in Paris, about fifteen countries, including Italy, if possible.
These proposals, which are included in a provisional document seen by EUROPE, are likely to evolve. At this stage, they propose to all Member States to: - set up a more predictable and efficient temporary solidarity mechanism in order to ensure the swift and dignified disembarkation of migrants rescued at sea by private rescue vessels in the closest safe harbour. - contribute until October 2019 (or end of 2019), in every single case, to the reception of asylum seekers rescued at high seas by private rescue vessels in the Mediterranean by engaging in the relocation scheme coordinated by the European Commission for the disembarkations occurring in harbours of EU Member States; - use a fast track system for asylum and return which includes, at least, registration and security screening of all migrants; - ensure the relocation of those applying for international protection to our national territories is achieved as fast as possible and ensure the effective and quick return of those not eligible for international protection in the EU.
The project also provides rules for NGOs to follow: - all private rescue vessels engaged in search and rescue operations are required, in particular, to respect instructions given by the competent Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre; - not to turn off on-board transponders; - not to send light signals or any other form of communication. Nor should NGOs obstruct search and rescue operations by official Coast Guard vessels.
Continued efforts will also be needed to ensure a sustainable reform of the Common European Asylum System, including the so-called Dublin Regulation, taking into account the persons disembarked following search and rescue operations.
Italy has not entirely rejected these proposals, but it wants to ensure that disembarkations will not automatically take place in the nearest ports, which directly involve Italy and Malta.
“I will never sign a document that says they will all arrive at my home”, Salvini said Thursday.
See the draft document: http://bit.ly/2Y7G9Fi (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)