Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese has called for a "code of conduct" for private vessels carrying out rescue operations in the Mediterranean. She wants the EU to introduce "rules for the security of migrants and crew members."
Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese said that Italy asked for a code of conduct for private boats operating in the Mediterranean at an EU Home Affairs Council on Monday.
Lamorgese said that her intention was "not to question the rescue of human lives, which remains a priority, but [to create] rules for the security of vessels and for the security not just of migrants who are rescued at sea but also of crew members."
Malta agreement giving results, Lamorgese
Lamorgese also said a migrant deal signed in Malta in September on the redistribution of asylum seekers "is giving its fruits [as the] European Commission has requested the redistribution in Europe of migrants who reached Italy's coasts [during the] last landings [...] which had never happened before."
The interior minister noted that countries that had never taken part in this type of redistribution before, like Spain, had now joined the effort.
Commissioner Johansson 'soon in Italy'
Lamorgese stressed that dialogue has already started with members of the new European Commission, in particular with the Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, who has "promised that she will come to Italy as soon as possible for a bilateral [meeting.]"