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Italy adopts decree that could fine migrant rescuers up to E50,000
Source: The Guardian
Italy adopts decree that could fine migrant rescuers up to €50,000
New bill would fine NGOs bringing migrants on shore without permission but UN says it penalises rescues at sea
Lorenzo Tondo in Palermo
Sat 15 Jun 2019 16.06 BST Last modified on Sat 15 Jun 2019 16.07 BST
The Italian government has formally adopted a security decree that would mean non-governmental organisation rescue boats that bring migrants to Italy without permission could face fines of up to €50,000.
On Friday night the Italian president, Sergio Mattarella, signed a new bill on security and immigration drafted by Matteo Salvini, the far-right interior minister and leader of the Northern League party which has been described by aid groups as a “declaration of war against the NGOs who are saving lives at sea”.
The new decree reinforces the powers of the ministry of the interior onimmigration and aims to put an end to NGO rescue missions in the central Mediterranean.
“We want certain behaviour to be a bit more transparent on the part of the NGOs too, I don’t want to lay it on but we are asking for greater transparency,’’ said the prime minister, Giuseppe Conte.
Italy’s populist government has repeatedly declared Italian waters closed to NGO rescue vessels. Several boats have been left stranded at sea because of this hardline approach, as at least 1,150 migrants have died in one year in the attempt to reach Italy from Libya.
-snip-
New bill would fine NGOs bringing migrants on shore without permission but UN says it penalises rescues at sea
Lorenzo Tondo in Palermo
Sat 15 Jun 2019 16.06 BST Last modified on Sat 15 Jun 2019 16.07 BST
The Italian government has formally adopted a security decree that would mean non-governmental organisation rescue boats that bring migrants to Italy without permission could face fines of up to €50,000.
On Friday night the Italian president, Sergio Mattarella, signed a new bill on security and immigration drafted by Matteo Salvini, the far-right interior minister and leader of the Northern League party which has been described by aid groups as a “declaration of war against the NGOs who are saving lives at sea”.
The new decree reinforces the powers of the ministry of the interior onimmigration and aims to put an end to NGO rescue missions in the central Mediterranean.
“We want certain behaviour to be a bit more transparent on the part of the NGOs too, I don’t want to lay it on but we are asking for greater transparency,’’ said the prime minister, Giuseppe Conte.
Italy’s populist government has repeatedly declared Italian waters closed to NGO rescue vessels. Several boats have been left stranded at sea because of this hardline approach, as at least 1,150 migrants have died in one year in the attempt to reach Italy from Libya.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/15/italy-adopts-decree-that-could-fine-migrant-rescue-ngo-aid-up-to-50000
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