International rights advocates criticized the European Union on Wednesday for ab...
BRUSSELS - International rights advocates criticized the European Union on Wednesday for abdicating its humanitarian responsibilities after the bloc agreed to withdraw ships patrolling the Mediterranean for migrants attempting the perilous voyage.
The human rights commissioner for the Council of Europe, a European watchdog bigger than the EU, called on the bloc to step up sea rescues. Group Medecins Sans Frontieres said the EU move was “irresponsible and reckless”. Italy, under the influence of anti-immigration hardline deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini, moved to shut Italian ports for people saved in the sea by Sophia ships, demanding that other EU states also host the new arrivals.
But Berlin and others have wanted to continue the mission to fight smugglers. The awkward compromise this week is another step in the EU’s increasingly restrictive approach to migration. A spokeswoman for the EU’s executive European Commission on Wednesday acknowledged the diminished mission would play a much smaller role in saving lives: “It’s clear that without naval assets, Operation Sophia will not be able to effectively implement its mandate,” Maja Kocijancic told a news briefing.
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