05/07/2021 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission reiterated on 5 July that it was not within its competence to indicate to national authorities disembarkation points for migrants rescued at sea, but that it retained the “political responsibility” to encourage Member States to coordinate and find solidarity solutions, which it has done through the Pact on Migration and Asylum and a specific instrument on rescue at sea. It called on Member States to do everything possible to move the Pact forward. The Commission was reacting to the latest rescue by the NGO SOS Méditerranée vessel Ocean Viking of another 369 people in the Libyan search and rescue area, bringing the total number of people rescued at sea in recent days to 572. The NGO is now heading back to the EU and is looking for a port to disembark these people. (SP)