France enhances border controls in retaliation to Italy's migrant policy

The diplomatic row between France and Italy enters a new stage as France is reinforcing border controls at its border with northern Italy with long queues formed on November 13.

As the Associated Press reported, the two neighbours are in conflict over migration policy and humanitarian rescue ships with no end in sight.

France announced this week that it was sending 500 extra officers to strengthen its frontiers with Italy, and announced "serious" passport controls, in retaliation for Italy’s delays in helping humanitarian ships that rescue migrants in the Mediterranean.

The conflict evolves around Italy's decision to no longer be the primary port of entry for migrants, announced by its new right-wing government of Giorgia Meloni. Three aid groups were permitted to disembark their passengers in Italian ports because doctors determined they were all vulnerable only after long delays and with great reluctance from Rome. A fourth ship, the Ocean Viking charity, which had been at sea for nearly three weeks, was denied docking and eventually stopped in Toulon, France after Paris reluctantly took it in.

France strongly criticized Italy’s handling of the Ocean Viking, which was accompanied by triumphant social media posts by right-wing League party leader Matteo Salvini that “the air has changed” before France had publicly agreed to take it in.

In retaliation for this step, France announced it was withdrawing from a European Union “solidarity” mechanism approved in June 2022 to relocate 3,000 migrants from Italy.

Italy calls the French response "disproportionate" and "aggressive". Other front-line Mediterranean countries, including Greece, Malta and Cyprus have expressed their support for Italy's position and have released a joint statement on November 12 calling for a new, obligatory solidarity mechanism to take in migrants within the EU, as well as better regulations for private rescue ships.