Brussels demands the disembarkation of the ship with migrants that requested a port from Italy and France to avoid a “tragedy”

BRUSSELS, Nov. 9 () –

The European Commission has demanded this Wednesday the “immediate” disembarkation of the ship ‘Ocean Viking’ with more than 230 migrants on board rescued at sea more than two weeks ago to avoid a “humanitarian tragedy”, after the ship unsuccessfully requested a safe port to France after Italy’s refusal to allow them to reach land.

The NGO that covers the ship, SOS Mediterrannée, warned on Tuesday of the “critical” situation on board and warned that if they could not disembark the migrants soon there would be “serious consequences, including the risk of loss of human life.” “; in addition to physically and psychologically exhausting the team on the boat.

Since the new far-right government of Giorgia Meloni decided to deny the disembarkation of several boats that rescued migrants on the high seas, the Community Executive has limited itself to generally reminding the Member States that it is their “moral duty” and “legal obligation “Rescue these people.

The Commission has also avoided pointing directly to any government because, they maintain from Brussels, it is not the Community’s responsibility to designate which is the most suitable port for the ship to arrive.

However, after the alert from the ‘Ocean Viking’, the Community Executive has issued a statement to “call for the immediate disembarkation, in the nearest safe place, of all the people rescued and who are on board” the ship.

“The situation on the ship has reached a critical level and needs to be treated urgently to avoid a humanitarian tragedy,” completes the text, which insists that the “legal obligation to rescue and save lives on the high seas is clear and unequivocal.” , regardless of the circumstances that led these people to find themselves in a dangerous situation”.

In addition, the Commission points to the principle of “sincere cooperation” between Member States and asks them to work together to ensure a “common response”, being aware that life is something “sacred”.

Brussels also concedes that it is important to provide support to countries that regularly receive irregular arrivals from the sea and recalls that through the voluntary solidarity mechanism there are some reception places available to transfer some of the migrants who have arrived to other Member States. frontline countries.