Italy on Thursday said it might
leave the EU anti-human trafficking Sophia mission in the
Mediterranean unless there was a deal among EU members to have
rescued migrants land at other ports beside Italian ones.
Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Italy was "assessing"
whether to continue the EU's Sophia mission which currently
lands all rescued migrants in Italian ports.
Defence Minister Elisabetta Trenta voiced disappointment
Thursday at drawing a blank on Italy's proposal to change the
Sophia mission's landing rules so that other countries besides
Italy can take migrants.
"I feel disappointed because I've seen that Europe is not
here but I'm confident", she said after a defence ministers'
meeting.
"We will assess what to do" after no agreement was reached on
changing Sophia's port of landing rules.
"All decisions will be taken with the government and Premier
(Giuseppe) Conte", she said when asked whether Italy would leave
the mission.
Trenta voiced the hope that things might change at an EU
foreign ministers' meeting Friday.
"I've found open doors, but also closed ones," she said.
European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs
Federica Mogherini said "there is no consensus on practical
solutions" on the proposed Sophia mission changes.
She said she hoped for a concrete result on possibly changing
the Sophia mission's landing rules to help Italy in the coming
weeks.
"I hope for a concrete result in the coming weeks," she said
after EU defence ministers failed to agree on the issue.
"It is not and will not be am easy exercise but it is a duty,
because in these last few years we have proved that the EU can
make a difference in the Mediterranean".
She said "losing this asset would be a big step backwards for
the member States and the whole EU".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
