The row centers on the Ocean Viking, a charity ship that has sailed away from Sicilian waters toward France after unsuccessfully waiting for permission to dock in Italy since late October. Italian leaders have claimed that France is ready to accept the migrants, but Paris has warned that the ship was in Italian waters and branded the refusal to let her dock "unacceptable". It did not single out Italy or France by name, but noted the "clear and unequivocal" legal obligation to rescue distressed persons at sea. In June, around a dozen EU countries, including France, agreed to take in migrants who arrive in Italy and other main entry points. So far this year, 164 asylum seekers have been moved from Italy to other nations in the bloc that have volunteered to accept them.

Source: Libya Today November 10, 2022 04:02 UTC