[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] The Italian government, which has expressed opposition to the maritime refugee rescue activities of international relief organizations, has adopted legislation to regulate them.
According to local media such as La Repubblica on the 29th (local time), the Italian government held a meeting the day before and approved legislation related to refugee rescue ships operated by international relief organizations.
According to the bill, refugee rescue ships must immediately request entry after rescuing migrants drifting in the Mediterranean Sea heading to Europe, and must proceed without delay to the designated port. Until now, international relief organizations have conducted rescue operations by staying in the Mediterranean for several days, carrying hundreds of migrants multiple times, and then requesting entry from the Italian government.
The provision allowing disembarkation only at ports designated by the Italian Minister of the Interior is also considered a clause that can restrict the rescue activities of international relief organizations. This is because ports far from Sicily Island, which is close to refugee rescue ships, can be assigned.
The Italian government stipulated that if the regulations are violated, the captain of the vessel may be fined up to 50,000 euros (67 million KRW), and if violations are repeated, the ship can be confiscated.
La Repubblica criticized this bill, saying it "imposes economic and operational burdens on international relief organizations, making rescue activities impossible."
International relief organizations such as M?decins Sans Fronti?res (MSF), which operate refugee rescue ships, have expressed an unacceptable stance.
MSF opposed the Italian government's decision, stating that it would put thousands of people at risk of death in the Mediterranean and is an ethically unacceptable measure.
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