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EUROPE-MIGRANTS-AUSTRIA-DEFENCE
Mogherini urges EU to take ‘more responsibility’ on migrant mission
VIENNA, Aug 30, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini
on Thursday urged member states to “take more responsibility” and ensure the
bloc’s migrant rescue operation continues to fight human trafficking in the
Mediterranean.
Rome plans to ask the European Union to modify the rules of the Sophia
mission — currently commanded by Italy — and rotate the ports where
migrants rescued at sea can disembark, with France and Spain expected to top
the list.
Currently all the ships dock in Italy but Rome’s new right-wing,
nationalist government says it should not have to carry the burden on its own
and it is time other EU states do their fair share by taking in more of the
migrants.
In comments before informal talks by EU defense ministers, Mogherini
called on them to show a “constructive attitude” to work to continue the
mission.
“So far consensus has not been found… We can definitely not afford to
leave an EU operation without clarity on the rules it has to follow,” she
said ahead of the meeting in Vienna.
“It would be good if member states take more responsibility,” she added.
“The important thing is that we manage to keep the operation going… This
has been a remarkable achievement for all of the European Union.”
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said Sophia’s mandate was
until year end — when she expected EU leaders to solve the question of how
asylum seekers coming to Europe whose claims are recognised should be
distributed among member states and how those rejected should be returned
home.
“That is the question that is anyhow right on top of the agenda of EU
leaders… and so I expect this question to be solved in the autumn,” she
said.
EU leaders will meet in the Austrian city of Salzburg in September to
discuss the migrant crisis. Austria currently holds the EU’s rotating
presidency.
Sophia was launched in June 2015 following a series of deadly shipwrecks
and has since picked up thousands of migrants floundering in the
Mediterranean.
According to La Stampa newspaper, Italy’s idea is to rotate landings
between Mediterranean ports, with a particular emphasis on France and Spain,
and with Greece and Malta also sharing the load.
Italian Defence Minister Elisabetta Trenta said late Wednesday that the
ball was in the EU camp.
“By accepting our proposal it (the EU) will have the opportunity to show
it is a real community of values and intentions; by refusing it will deny its
own fundamental principles,” she said.
Italy has been turning away ships with migrants rescued at sea in a
campaign to make EU countries take their share.
Last week, it threatened to stop billions of euros of EU funding over the
issue, accusing Europe of turning its back as Italy grapples with seemingly
endless migrant arrivals.
BSS/AFP/MR/1430 hrs