Italy PM Announces Aid from Five Nations to Resolve Migrant Boat Standoff, According to Reuters

NICOSIA (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Tuesday that five countries have offered assistance to resolve the stalemate involving a rescue boat anchored off the coast of Sicily with 47 migrants aboard.

The boat, Sea Watch 3, operated by a German humanitarian organization, had rescued the migrants from a rubber dinghy off the Libyan coast over a week ago. However, Italy, having closed its ports to charity vessels, has refused to allow the migrants to disembark and request asylum.

Conte expressed gratitude to the nations that have recently indicated their willingness to reach a collective solution. He identified these countries as Germany, France, Portugal, Malta, and Romania.

Past similar situations have resulted in several EU states agreeing to accept a portion of migrants stranded on rescue boats. French President Emmanuel Macron, who joined Conte at a meeting of southern European countries, urged for the vessel to reach the nearest safe port as soon as possible and for the migrants to be distributed among the participating nations.

"France has consistently acted within a European framework. We are prepared for this, and I want to emphasize this for this ship and for our Italian friends," Macron stated.

Despite this, Conte clarified that he had not authorized the migrants to be brought ashore in Sicily, indicating that the government is currently ensuring they are being cared for properly while still on the boat.

This incident marks the second time within a month that Sea Watch 3, flying a Dutch flag, has been stranded at sea with rescued migrants unable to find a safe port. The previous standoff lasted 19 days before the migrants were permitted to disembark in Malta, followed by an agreement among eight EU countries, including Italy, to accept them.

Italy had allowed rescue ships to dock regularly until June of last year when a new government, formed by the right-wing League and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, took office and implemented stricter measures against migrant arrivals, aligning with the election commitments of League leader Matteo Salvini.