Hardline interior minister Matteo Salvini tweeted on Friday he was ready to ban from Italy the French charity ship Ocean Viking, which is currently off Libya with scores of rescued migrants on board.
"I am ready to ban from Italian waters the French NGO (vessel) flying the Norwegian flag, which is currently located in Libyan waters with 80 rescued migrants," read the tweet.
"And we have written to the Spanish government telling it to take in the 120 migrants aboard the Spanish charity boat Open Arms," added the tweet.
Open Arms on Friday said it was "shameful" that European Union countries had allowed it to remain at sea for over a week. "Shame on Europe for leaving 121 people stranded at sea for eight days...we are the true Europe," the NGO tweeted.
European Parliament president David Sassoli wrote to the European Commission on Thursday urging it to treat the case as an emergency and to take immediate action. The EU executive has in the past coordinated such stand-offs between member states.
Malta, as well as Italy has refused to allow the Open Arms to enter its territory.
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