After Four Days At Sea And Multiple Rejections, The Migrant NGO Ship Aquarius Has Been Let Into Malta
After four days at sea, stuck in a political standoff as no European countries would offer their harbours, the MV Aquarius and its 141 migrant payload have been let in Malta. In the last few days alone, Italy, Tunisia, Spain, and Malta had all refused the Aquarius requests to land in their ports.
According to a Tweet by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat earlier today, the 141 migrants aboard will now be split between five countries: France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain. Muscat said that Malta had given the Aquarius permission to enter its ports “despite having no legal obligation to do so”.
Spain and Portugal have offered to take the majority of migrants in, with the Spanish government offering to take in 60 people, while Portugal offered to welcome 30.
The migrants are known to have been rescued from boats that had left from Libya.
“Following discussions between France and Malta, a number of European Union member states, with the support of the European Commission, agreed on a responsibility sharing exercise regarding the rescued migrants on board MV Aquarius,” the government said today in a statement.
#Malta will give #Aquarius permission to enter its ports, despite having no legal obligation to do so. All reported 141 persons on board will be distributed amongst #France, #Germany, #Luxembourg, #Portugal and #Spain. More to follow.
— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) August 14, 2018
#Malta @JosephMuscat_JM, #France @EmmanuelMacron and EU Commission @JunckerEU take leadership role to provide solution for #Aquarius situation. A number of EU Member States will take migrants aboard the @SOSMedIntl #Aquarius. pic.twitter.com/RYHemI4zqY
— Kurt Farrugia (@KurtFarrugia) August 14, 2018
Concrete European cooperation enacted on the #Aquarius, based on a French-Maltese initiative. I thank Malta for its humanitarian gesture and assure it of the full solidarity of France. There is no alternative to cooperation. https://t.co/OXaO2SRZgm
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 14, 2018
The MV Aquarius resumed its rescue operations last week after being involved in a major diplomatic row in June
After being caught in the middle of a row between the Italian and Maltese governments, the Aquarius took its 630 migrants on board to Spain, which offered its ports.
Ever since that June dispute, there have been less rescue ships patrolling Libyan shores because of increased pressure from Maltese and Italian governments.
This afternoon’s update seems to hint at our island getting closer to becoming the “logistical base” that many people have called for Malta to turn to. In fact, a government statement published today even used this same terminology.
What do you make of this development? Let us know in the comments below!
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