Italy: Salvini declares “a firm hand” against NGOs that save people in the Mediterranean, promises “fines, confiscation and control”

“Looming: fines, concerns, more control,” Salvini wrote on social networks, before adding that “the government is ready to deal aggressively with landings” and concluded with the slogan: “Whoever makes a mistake pays for it. He – she.”

The new Italian CEO has started a battle to block the work of associations that rescue migrants in the Mediterranean and which they accuse of promoting the influx from Africa, after a confrontation between France and Italy opened on the boats of NGOs.

Salvini, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure with Port Competencies, ordered, by decree, that humanitarian ships disembark only people deemed vulnerable after a medical examination conducted on board the ship. The rest of the people must remain inside the ship and then be redirected to international waters.

Earlier on Monday, the Italian foreign minister stressed at the European Union’s Council of Foreign Ministers that Italy “will raise the issue of migration calmly and resolutely, because the problem takes years and it is absolutely necessary to solve it.” Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, who called on the European Commission for a “code of conduct for NGOs”.

Tajani, who did not rule out that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron will meet next week at the G20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia, denied that Italy would be left alone in Europe after Paris. within the European Union.

Germany and Luxembourg respected the agreements. Greece, Malta and Cyprus are also in solidarity, as they signed a joint declaration of interior ministers with Italy because they have the same problem,” he said, shortly after the German ambassador to Italy, Victor Ebling, said that NGOs “saves lives” and who deserve “gratitude and support” .

For its part, France again warned Italy: “There will be consequences if Italy continues in this position,” said Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who lamented the “stubborn rejection and inhumanity” of Rome.