Italy allows migrants to land in Sicily

Copyright
EPA

Italy will allow 450 migrants who were picked up Saturday from an overcrowded boat to land in Sicily.

The decision was made after Italy said that France, Germany, Malta, Portugal and Spain had each agreed to take 50 migrants.

Malta and Italy had previously insisted that the other country allow the boat to dock.

The new Italian government has tightened its policies to stem the flow of arrivals on its shores.

Up to now, only women and children, or 57 people, have been allowed to land in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo.

• How Libya Holds the Key to Resolve the Migration Crisis in Europe

Migrants were rescued from a boat in the Mediterranean by two ships of the EU's Frontex mission, but the only thing that has happened is that they have been destroyed. Italy did not want to allow them to land in her ports.

Before the migrants were rescued from their wooden boat on Saturday, Malta had refused calls for them to land in Valletta, saying the boat was much closer to the Italian island of Lampedusa

. Salvini said the Frontex boats should "head south to Libya or Malta" once the migrants are saved.

The Italian position changed after Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte wrote to all member states of the European Union. refugees.

"In this context, which always sees Italy in the front line of saving lives at sea, I ask you for a clear sign on the sharing of responsibility for managing the issue of migrants," wrote Conte [19659014]. On Saturday, they would each take 50, Germany, Spain and Portugal making a similar commitment on Sunday.

But Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis rejected the demand, saying the relocation of migrants "would drive the road to hell".

And Libya reiterated its refusal to embark anybody from the ship

"No, we will not accept any illegal migrants after being rescued by rescue ships," said a Coast Guard spokesman at Reuters. In June, two rescue boats struggled to find a port to dock, after Italy refused permission.

Aquarius finally joined the Spanish port of Valencia with 630 migrants after being blocked by Italy and Malta. ship, the Lifeline, moored in Malta with 230 migrants. In both cases, a number of European countries have agreed to accept migrants.