Italy agrees to accept migrants rescued at sea
(VOVWORLD) - Italy agreed to continue accepting migrants rescued at sea, at least until a broader EU strategy to address fair distribution of people can be defined.
 Migrants are moved to Pozzallo, Sicily, Italy after being rescued at sea on July 16, 2018. (Photo: EPA/VNA) |
Italy’s Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi said after talks with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Berlin on Monday that EU partners will seek a solution on migration policy within the next 5 weeks. He said Rome will ensure that ships with rescued people can dock in Italy and urged EU countries to overhaul the operational rules so as to avoid all the rescued people landing in one country. Maas said he hopes all EU states will uphold existing agreements, which include sea rescues.
The International Migration Organization (IMO) reported that 52,000 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea. 1,500 of them have died in the attempt so far this year.