French Immigration Minister Eric Besson has characterized Frontex’s ongoing Nautilus IV operation which is based in Malta as “a complete failure.” He said the legal uncertainty regarding member state responsibility for intercepted boats hampered the operation and caused some member states to withdraw from the operation.
Italy, for example, has refused to contribute assets to the Nautilus IV operation due to a dispute over where intercepted migrants should be taken. Italy of course is unilaterally returning migrants who it intercepts directly to Libya without offering the intercepted migrants an opportunity to make asylum or other claims for protection.
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MIGRANTS AT SEA 