The European Commission expects Italy
to abide by international practices and maritime law in its
application of new rules pertaining to the sea rescue of
migrants and refugees carried out by private vessels including
ships operated by non-governmental organizations in the central
Mediterranean, according to a document seen by ANSA on Friday.
"I would like to stress that we expect that the rules requiring
private boats to reach the port of disembarkation without delay
after the completion of a rescue will not be interpreted or
implemented in contradiction with international customs and
maritime law," writes EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva
Johansson in her response to a question from the European
Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home
Affairs (LIBE).
"The Commission is in very close and regular contact with the
Italian authorities and will continue to closely monitor the
effective implementation of this legislation, within its
competences and mandate."
Early this year the government of Premier Giorgia Meloni
introduced new legislation requiring civil rescue ships to
navigate directly to the assigned port after carrying out a
rescue, rather than remaining in the search and rescue area in
order to rescue possible further boats in distress.
Ships that do not comply with the rules face administrative
sanctions.
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