Italy is urging the Netherlands to give refuge to 47 migrants currently stranded aboard a Dutch flagged rescue ship sheltering in Italian waters off Sicily, interior minister Matteo Salvini said on Friday.
"The Italian government calls on the Dutch government to take urgent measures to transfer the 47 migrants on board the Dutch vessel Sea Watch," Salvini wrote in a letter.
He was referring to the German NGO Sea Watch's ship, which Italian coastguard has allowed to shelter off in coastal waters off the Sicilian port of Siracusa.
The letter also asked the Dutch government to provide "full information" on Sea Watch's compliance with Dutch laws, its activities and its boats and crew.
"Italian police are investigating Sea Watch over its behaviour in order to establish if they are operating within our country's laws, which must be upheld," Salvini later told reporters in Rome.
Seawatch 3 saved the 47 migrants off the Libyan coast a week ago but on Wednesday was refused permission to dock at the Italian island of Lampedusa in worsening weather conditions. Italian coastguard allowed the vessel to shelter off Siracusa after its sailed away from Malta as it had not received permission to enter Maltese waters.
