Top French officials on Tuesday publicly decried Italy’s decision to reject port for the French NGO rescue ship, Aquarius, with 629 immigrants on board. According to Emmanuel Macron’s spokesman Benjamin Grivaux, the French president believes Italy was obligated to accept Aquarius under maritime law.
“There is a degree of cynicism and irresponsibility in the Italian government’s behavior with regards to this dramatic humanitarian situation,” Griveaux quoted Macron as saying.
Griveaux said Macron made the remarks during Tuesday’s weekly Cabinet meeting. Macron also praised Spain for pledging to accept the ship once it reaches their shores.
“You can’t create a precedent that will enable one European country to offload onto other European countries,” Griveaux said. “We need to show solidarity which Italy has not shown.”
Separately, France’s Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told French lawmakers that the new Italian government had “chosen to not respect its international obligations in terms of security for the people.”
“This episode shows that there is no hope in the short-term for a national solution to this problem,” he added. “There can only be a European response.”