31 July 2019; DW: After EU countries agreed to share responsibility for the 131 people on board, Italy's Matteo Salvini said he would allow them to disembark. Italian prosecutors had opened an investigation into conditions on board.
Interior Minister Matteo Salvini announced Wednesday afternoon that Italy had reached an agreement with the EU, and that he would allow 131 migrants on board the Italian coastguard vessel Bruno Gregoretti to disembark.
The far-right Italian lawmaker, who leads the League (Liga) party, previously refused to allow the rescued people to leave the ship. The Italian coastguards rescued the people from boats in the Mediterranean last week, but they have remained on the boat docked in Sicily for the last five days.
"In the coming hours I will personally authorize the disembarkation," Salvini announced in a Facebook video released on Wednesday.
Former Italian navy chief Giuseppe De Giorgi, who launched the Mare Nostrum maritime rescue plan in 2013, hailed the Gregoretti's crew who "despite all were committed to accomplishing with honor their duty as sailors to protect lives at sea."
EU sharing responsibility
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said 14 EU members had approved a plan for the redistribution of refugees rescued in the Mediterranean, and eight states said they would actively take part in the process. On Wednesday Macron wrote on Twitter: "A European solution has been found for the women and men stranded on the ship Gregoretti."
"They will disembark in Italy, then be welcomed in six countries, including France. Our country is true to its principles: responsibility, solidarity and European cooperation," the French president wrote.
France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Portugal have agreed to accept the refugees, according to the European Commission. The Catholic Church in Italy said it would care for the migrants left in Italy.
Some of the rescued people on board the Gregoretti had been allowed to disembark for medical reasons, including a seven-month pregnant woman, her two children and her partner as well as 15 minors.
Italian media said prosecutors have opened an investigation into conditions on board the coastguard supply vessel where the migrants had to share one toilet between them for nearly a week.
Pope Francis had called on the international community last Sunday to "act swiftly" to help avoid further deaths.
Long standing quarrel
The Italian government has long argued that Italy is not able to accept any more refugees and Salvini criticized the deal arranged by Macron, saying Italy would remain the "refugee camp of Europe."
Other EU states have criticized the Italian government's responses to migrant rescues in the Mediterranean.
Italian authorities arrested Carola Rackete, the German captain of the Sea Watch 3 migrant rescue ship in early July. She had forced her way into port and disembarked 53 refugees from her vessel, without authorization from Italy and was arrested as a result.
Pressure from other European states led to her release soon after her detention by Italian authorities.
A report by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated that over 2,000 people have attempted the dangerous crossing by boat to Italy so far this year.
