(see related story on agreement to share out 49 migrants who has been at sea for weeks).
Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini hit back on Thursday after the Maltese government expressed "disdain and surprise at the inaccurate allegations" it said were made by him over the management of asylum seekers. "(We take) no lessons from Malta, which for years closed its eyes and let small and big (migrant) boats head towards Italy," League party leader Salvini said via Twitter. "The music has changed, (now) you can only arrive in Italy with a permit. We have received too many (asylum seekers), the others should wake up. #portsclosed".
Salvini posted the tweet after the Maltese government said in a statement that he made "unfounded claims" about unfulfilled voluntary reallocation pledges.
European Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos is ready to talk to Italy about the reallocation of migrants, the Commission said on Thursday.
"Commissioner Avramopoulos is willing to meet the Italian government to discuss supplementary measures that can be taken to regulate the problem," a Commission spokesperson said regarding the reallocation of migrants at the European level. The spokesperson said the Commission was "relieved" that a solution had been found that will see 49 migrants who disembarked in Malta on Wednesday after weeks at sea received by eight European states.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
