Aquarius to be allowed into Malta, migrants to be shared among EU countries
Updated 3.24pm
A migrant rescue ship stranded for four days at sea is to be allowed into Malta to disembark 141 migrants, who will then be shared by several countries, the government said on Tuesday.
The decision ends a standoff which had seen Italy, Spain and Tunisia also refuse entry to the MV Aquarius. The migrants had been rescued from boats off Libya.?
"Following discussions between France and Malta, a number of European Union member states, with the support of the European Commission, agreed on a responsibility sharing exercise regarding the rescued migrants on board MV Aquarius," the government said.?
"Malta will be making a concession allowing the vessel to enter its ports, despite having no legal obligation to do so. Malta will serve as a logistical base and all of the reportedly 141 migrants on board will be distributed amongst France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain."
Read: AFM patrol boat rescues 114 migrants, brings them to Malta
The government also pointed out that a further 114 migrants were rescued at sea and brought to Malta on Monday. Sixty of them will be distributed among other EU member states.
This is the second time such a migrants distribution...
Full story