Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Wednesday he would not authorise migrant landings in Italy despite an EU deal to share among member states including Italy some 49 migrants on board two NGO rescue ships for nearly three weeks.
"I won't authorise migrants arrivals," he said on a visit to Poland.
"Choices are shared and meetings are held before, not after" he said referring to Premier Giuseppe Conte whom Salvini has suggested went over his head in negotiating the deal.
"I am, and remain, against new arrivals in Italy," said Salvini, who has spearheaded the government's tough stance of denying access to NGO-run migrant-rescue ships to Italy's ports. "(In Brussels) they pretend not to understand and they facilitate the work of the traffickers and the NGOs. "Giving in to the pressure and threats of Europe and the NGOs is a sign of weakness that the Italian people do not deserve".
The 49 migrants landed on Malta Wednesday afternoon after 19 days at sea.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
