Image copyright AFP Symbol caption The migrants were rescued from inflatable boats off the coast of Libya
Italy’s decision in June not to accept the rescue vessel Aquarius with greater than SIX HUNDRED migrants on board attracted standard criticism on humanitarian grounds.
Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat stated Italy had damaged international rules, and the plight of the Aquarius ended in a diplomatic row among Italy and France.
Italy’s proper-wing Inner Minister Matteo Salvini stated that although rescuing lives is an obligation, “reworking Italy into a vast refugee camp is not”.
The ship was once ultimately diverted to Spain.
So who has the legal responsibility for vessels at sea carrying migrants?
Symbol copyright EPA Symbol caption Italy did permit one in all its own coastguard vessels to carry migrants to Sicily
There Is also the 1979 Global Convention on Maritime Seek and Rescue, which establishes a criminal framework for signatories to co-ordinate rescue efforts.
According to the International Maritime Group, which helped prepare some of the foundations in the back of rescue at sea, its member states even have an obligation “to co-ordinate so that persons rescued at sea are disembarked in a place of safety as soon as conceivable”.
A query of definitions
However, there are a host of issues.
One drawback is over defining misery, in line with Yves Pascouau, editor of the eu Migration Law web site. which gives recommendation on asylum and immigration regulation around the ECU.
“that is a matter of interpretation,” he says.
The Aquarius was no longer in evident mechanical issue as it approached Maltese and Italian waters and he provides: “They (Italy and Malta) didn’t believe the definition of distress had been met.”
in addition, the Maltese authorities had provided a few meals and water to those on board.
Read extra from Reality Check
Send us your questions
Follow us on Twitter
