Rescue ship rejected by Italy to dock in Valencia

The Spanish government has decided to let a stranded rescue ship with around 600 migrants on board dock in the port of Valencia. The offer came as Italian authorities refused to let the 'Aquarius' ship dock at its ports, saying Italy is holding all the burden of the humanitarian crisis with no help from neighboring countries.

The Italian Home Affairs Minister, far-right Northern League leader Matteo Salvini, said the country would not take any more migrants and urged Malta to allow the 'Aquarius' to dock in the island. After Malta refused and the EU and the UN asked both European countries to end the stand-off, the new Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, stepped in and offered the Valencian port instead.  

"Spain will take in the Aquarius for humanitarian reasons," said the Spanish government in a press release. "We welcome the decision of the Spanish government. This is real solidarity put in practice towards both theses desperate and vulnerable people and towards fellow EU member states," said the EU Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos.

The mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, offered the port of Barcelona as a safe harbor for the migrant ship. "President Sánchez, it's time to reverse the inhumane policies of the PP and for the new government to comply with its human rights obligations. It's about saving lives. Barcelona offers its ports as a humanitarian safe harbor," she tweeted before the Spanish government announcement. After Sánchez said the ship will dock in Valencia, Colau said the new refugee policy of the Spanish government "gives hope".