On Friday, the interior ministers of the European Union countries discussed suggestions aimed at alleviating tensions between France and Italy against the background of the arrival of immigrants to the beaches of the two countries without permission, including a possible campaign against ships belonging to charitable organizations that carry out search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean, according to Al -Arabiya..
Receiving about 9,000 immigrants
In recent weeks, hundreds of people who hoped to enter Europe are stuck in the sea on relief ships, while countries are conflict with whether they should be allowed to go down, and on the place that is supposed to receive them.
This comes in a year that has so far witnessed the arrival of more than 90,000 immigrants to Europe across the Mediterranean, in an increase of about 50 percent, compared to the same period last year.
Up to 2000 people were killed or lost at sea.
“Ocean Viking”
Meanwhile, a diplomatic conflict erupted earlier this month, when Italy enlightened France regarding the reception of the relief rescue ship “Ocean Viking” with 234 migrants on board.
The right -wing government in Rome had refused to allow it to dock in a ports for weeks.
“If Italy does not receive ships and does not accept the Law of the Seas, and the nearest safe port, there is no reason to make the countries that carry out the transportation, such as France and Germany, are the same countries that receive ships and migrants directly from Africa and Asia,” said French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanan.
“Permanent solution”
With its counterparts, Darmanan is looking for a permanent solution to the problem that the European Union has followed for years.
Diplomats and officials said it is unlikely to make great progress, but they may pave the way for work to reach a form of agreement at their next meeting to be held on December 8 and 9.
Strong rules
The European Commission presented an action plan, which includes the idea of imposing tougher bases on ships that carry out search and rescue work.
To this, the European Union plan calls for a weight behind “discussions in the International Maritime Organization on the need to set specific framework and guidance for ships that focus on search and rescue activities, especially in light of developments in the European context. “.
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