France has become the first EU member state to say it would welcome some of the 356 migrants on board the stranded rescue ship Ocean Viking.
It is currently waiting in the Sicilian Channel after Italy and Malta refused it permission to dock.
The migrants were rescued off the coast of Libya nearly two weeks ago with the NGO SOS Mediterranean, which operates Ocean Viking jointly with ‘Doctors Without Borders’ saying they have no response yet and the situation is getting critical.
The European Commission asked EU member states to show “solidarity” like six countries did by accepting migrants from another rescue ship, Open Arms.
Several EU countries said they would receive people from Open Arms, but they also claim that a more permanent and inclusive disembarkation mechanism is needed for cases in the future.
Discussion for this will take place in Malta in September when the European Council will try to find solutions.
