The number of migrants in the Mediterranean is increasing. Italy now threatens organizations that save people from the Mediterranean relief, with stronger controls. A cry for help in the direction of the EU? From Brussels Bernd Riegert.
According to the “International organization for Migration” (IOM), an Agency that works with the United Nations, escaped in the first half of 2017 with about 85,000 migrants by boat from North Africa to Italy. The number is 19 percent higher than in the first half of last year. The highlight of the “season” is not reached, according to IOM. The unseaworthy tug boats that are usually overloaded completely, would mainly sent from June to September on the journey, because then the Mediterranean sea between Libya and Italy was fairly quiet. The Chance for so long to hold out, to rescue, to be simply bigger. A little more than 2000 Dead on the so-called Central Mediterranean route has counted the IOM in the first six months of the year.
All the Attempts of the European Union, to reduce the number of migrants, have failed so far. The official goal of the EU is the Mediterranean sea route similar to the Route between Turkey and Greece close as possible. In the sea area in front of Libya, a flotilla of European border guard, the rescue of migrants, but also the tractor should deter crosses. The cooperation with the Libyan coast guard to be running timid, it shall inform the EU Commission. There is a lack of ships and specific Interlocutors on the Libyan side.
Almost half of the rescued refugees and migrants has not been collected from the EU-ships, but of ships operated by ten private relief organizations. Frontex, the EU border protection Agency, and Italy had asked non-governmental organizations two years ago to Use. Now the Executive Director of Frontex, Fabrice Leggeri, and Italian politicians accuse the volunteers, they would encourage the tugs more to assist migrants, the dangerous ride. In Sicily the public Prosecutor’s office determined even, the individual volunteers, in collaboration with Smugglers on the coast of Libya accuses. In Malta, there had been similar investigations.
Italy writes new rules
The Italian government wants to now control the work of the auxiliary organizations is stronger, and is preparing new conduct and procedural rules. The operations of Frontex and the NGO-coordinated ships of the Italian Navy. The accused individual helpers, you would turn off the Transponder of your ships. These devices automatically indicate the Position of the ships.
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Aid organisations in Italy under pressure
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Aid organisations in Italy under pressure
Without a Transponder, the helper drive allegedly in Libyan territorial waters, where migrants from inflatable boats, and to take the rotten wood barges. Here, helpers and facilitators are in close contact. These allegations, the spokesman for the Libyan coast guard, Ayyoub Qasem. “You don’t care about the Libyan sovereignty over the waters”, defendant Qasem. Italy wants to undertake the private rescue vessels to leave the Transponder on at all times, to register teams and to inform the monitoring station of the Navy, before a rescue operation begins.
Criticism from the UN high Commissioner for refugees
The special representative of the UN refugee Agency’s work for the Mediterranean sea-Route, Vincent Cochetel, said in Brussels sharply to the attempt, the auxiliary organizations of the blame. “If there are to be rules of conduct, then you must apply for all. We often observe that trade ships off in the sea area, your Transponder to the need to save people.” So the trading ships of the sea could not be recognised-operational centre of the Italian Navy, and assigned to help in an emergency. The same applied for ships of NATO which are there on-the-go. “Can you tell me, how many people have saved these ships in the last few years?” asked the UNHCR Representative in rhetoric and pointed out that the Navy is better without a Transponder on-the-go and the must by the law of the sea.
Frontex chief Leggeri holds the private rescue operations for an encouragement to the tractor, to put even more people for exorbitant prices in seeuntüchtige inflatable boats.
Italy could close ports
Italy threatens to let in the future, vessels with migrants on Board, operated by non-governmental organisations, not in its ports to retract. “If the only ports which accommodate asylum seekers, in Italy, something is wrong in Europe,” had said the Italian Minister of the interior Marco Minniti on the weekend.
Italy’s Minister of the interior, Minniti: close ports?
The Italian Navy could refuse to take the rescued migrants on the high seas of the mostly smaller NGO-ships. That would restrict the radius of action of these private rescuers considerably. So far it is not but still. The interior Ministers of France and Germany says Italy more support. The new rules, which Italy wants to impose on the private rescue vessels, should be welcomed by the European Union next weekend in Tallinn at an informal Meeting of the 28 EU interior Ministers.
No solidarity with Italy
The deeper Problem, namely the failure of the redistribution of refugees to other EU States, is not solved after two years of continuous dispute still. Actually, the other States would be obliged, Italy and Greece on a monthly basis, thousands of migrants decrease. This does not happen, although the EU Commission is insisting on this constantly, and even infringement proceedings against some countries. Italy’s Prime Minister, Paolo Gentiloni, has announced that it is decentralized deportation centers across the country. The current state is not durable, said Gentiloni.
The Italian government is preparing the construction of additional camps. The existing facilities were soon full, it is called by the Italian government. The loads must be shared in Europe. “The Desire of Italy to more solidarity is totally justified,” said EU Commissioner, Frans Timmermans, in Strasbourg. “We want to reduce the pressure on Italy. EU States would have to do what you have promised.”
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SOS Mediterranee rejects allegations
The spokesperson of the organization SOS Mediterranee, Jana Ciernioch, dismissed the allegations of the Italian government towards the DW. In the code of conduct required requirements would already be fulfilled. The ships of the auxiliary organization are legally required to have their Transponder on. Crews would be registered with each entry into a port. The allegations, the rescuers worked together with the people smugglers, are far-fetched, Jana Ciernioch. “There is no practical co-operation with tractors.” The claims of Italy were to the reality. “This is probably more of a cry for help. The Problem is we are not. The solution lies in the EU.”