Admission of rescue vessels to Italian ports

3.7.2017

Question for written answer P-004488-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Jonás Fernández (S&D) , Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D)

According to an article in the ‘Corriere della Sera’ newspaper of 29 June 2017, the Italian Government is threatening to close its ports to humanitarian search and rescue vessels operated by non-profit organisations if they are not flying the Italian flag.

Such a measure might well be in breach of the international law of the sea, as well as European law, at least as regards vessels flying the flag of an EU Member State other than Italy.

There can be no doubt that migrant flows in the central Mediterranean are a shared EU responsibility and that it must provide Italy with more funding and manpower. At the same time, other Member States must be willing to accept their share of relocated migrants.

Nevertheless, refusal to admit vessels into port is a disproportionately harsh measure. It hardly seems admissible that those rescued at sea should be forced to remain aboard for days or even weeks until they can be taken to a more distant port.

What view does the Commission take of this measure?

What alternative measures would it recommend to assist Italy?