From Reader Mike:

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by Tyler Durden
Wed, 06/26/2019

"Does the European Union want to solve the Sea Watch problem? Easy," Salvini wrote on Facebook, "Dutch ship, German NGO: Half of the immigrants in Amsterdam, the other half in Berlin. And seize the pirate ship."

A group of 10 migrants who were among the original contingent of those currently aboard Sea-Watch 3 were allowed to disembark at Lampedusa by Italy for medical reasons back on June 12. Three unaccompanied minors, the youngest of them just 12, remain onboard.

Salvini argues that his country has taken in too many of the migrants picked up by rescue boats, and that only a fraction are genuinely fleeing war. He had already once refused entry to Sea-Watch 3, only to have the decision overturned by the ECHR in May. Sea-Watch 3 landed at Lampedusa with the 65 migrants it had rescued from a rubber dinghy in the waters off Libya before the ship was impounded for three weeks. It was then released back to the NGO by Italian authorities. -Newsweek

Italy's frustration over accepting a flood of migrants is undoubtedly responsible in large part for the election of Salvini - a hard-line nationalist who has taken aggressive measures to stem the tide of migrant boats docking in Italian ports. Salvini has repeatedly called on other European nations to shoulder the burden.

According to European Commission spokeswoman Tove Ernst, officials are watching the Sea Watch situation closely.

"For the Commission, this situation shows once again that predictable and sustainable solutions are urgently needed in the Mediterranean," Ernst told Newsweek, adding that the Commission had encouraged EU member states to "agree on temporary arrangements following disembarkation."

"We renew our call on all Member States to facilitate and speed up this crucial work," Ernst added. "In the meantime, until such arrangements are in place, we also call on Member States to bear the humanitarian imperative in mind and contribute to a swift resolution. Whilst we welcome that Italy has proceeded with the evacuation of a number of persons from Sea-Watch 3 for medical reasons, a solution for the remaining people on board is still needed."

Sea Watch is exhausted