![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/meloni-sparks-row-by-prematurely-thanking-france-for-accepting-migrant-boat-italy-rejected/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/TELEMMGLPICT000205122443_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPxc.jpeg&description=France has hit out at Italy's new hard-Right prime minister Giorgia Meloni for claiming it had agreed to take in a boatload of migrants in a fresh diplomatic row between the continental neighbours. The spat erupted after Ms Meloni thanked France for opening a port to the Ocean Viking, a charity ship with 234 people on board - jumping the gun regarding any confirmation, or denial, by President Emmanuel Macron's government. The vessel was heading to French territorial waters on Wednesday after Italy stonewalled its requests for a port of safety for around three weeks since rescuing the migrants in the southern Mediterranean. On Tuesday, Ms Meloni thanked France for "sharing the responsibility of the migratory emergency, which up to now has been on the back of Italy and a few other states'. 'The immigration emergency is a European issue and it should be addressed as such," she said. However, France, which has not confirmed it will receive the migrants, reacted angrily to the apparent fait accompli. Olivier Véran, a Government spokesman, slammed Italy's refusal to take in the ship as 'unacceptable'.){kind=link}
Rome’s refusal to allow vessel to dock was ‘unacceptable’, the French government said
France has hit out at Italy’s new hard-Right prime minister Giorgia Meloni for claiming it had agreed to take in a boatload of migrants in a fresh diplomatic row between the continental neighbours.
The spat erupted after Ms Meloni thanked France for opening a port to the Ocean Viking, a charity ship with 234 people on board – jumping the gun regarding any confirmation, or denial, by President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
The vessel was heading to French territorial waters on Wednesday after Italy stonewalled its requests for a port of safety for around three weeks since rescuing the migrants in the southern Mediterranean.
On Tuesday, Ms Meloni thanked France for “sharing the responsibility of the migratory emergency, which up to now has been on the back of Italy and a few other states”.