Wilfried Devillers, edited by Gauthier Delomez
modified in
7:38 pm, 9th November 2022
In case of failure of the negotiations between France and Italy, still in progress, the city of Toulon in the Var is preparing for the arrival of the Ocean Viking, a boat stranded in the Mediterranean Sea and on which more than 200 migrants are found.
In Toulon, in the Var, a system of authority is gradually being established. If talks between Paris and Rome fail, go the reception of the Ocean Viking ship, currently stranded in the Mediterranean Sea with more than 200 migrants on board, the city prepares to welcome the boat in its port. Discussions are still ongoing between France and Italy, but the topic has revealed tensions between the two countries. Italy refuses for the moment to receive the ship of the European NGO SOS Méditerranée.
On Wednesday morning, government spokesman Olivier Véran asked Italy to do so “play their role” and “respect their European commitments”.
An arrival on Friday or at the latest this weekend?
Part of the workforce in the southern border police area is converging on the port of Toulon, where the last of the four migrant rescue boats could dock on Friday at dawn or at the latest this weekend. Also according to the information of Europe 1, the file is driven directly by the Elysée. This scenario, envisaged, is increasingly probable if the pressure exerted by Paris on Rome does not produce results.
France urges Giorgia Meloni’s government to respect maritime law. This predicts it to be the closest country to host the Ocean Viking, currently east of Sardinia. However, for several days Rome has turned a deaf ear to the multiple requests for accommodation by SOS Méditerranée. In total, there are 43 requests that remained unanswered.
“We have no other solutions”
The Ocean Viking continues its course towards the north of the Mediterranean, towards France. “We have no other solutions, for the moment, without an answer from Italy, to go to France”, explains François Thomas, president of SOS Méditerranée, on the microphone of Europa 1. “We hope that France will open a port to find a solution also humanitarian and legal, since the right to the sea remains “, he continues.
The situation is critical on board the ship, adds François Thomas. According to him, many migrants suffer from respiratory problems due to the cold and humidity. Added to this is the fatigue and intense psychological distress after 19 days stranded at sea.
