VALLETTA – Italy, Malta, France, Finland and Germany have reached an agreement at Malta regarding the handling of the migrant crisis.

 The document drawn up by the five countries refers only to rescue ships managed by non-governmental organisations but nevertheless represents an important change.

 The key points agreed are relocating migrants within four weeks; the assessment of asylum applications and possible repatriations to be the responsibility of countries that take in the migrants; and the possibility of rotating ports for landings, on a voluntary basis, reports Il Fatto Quotidiano.

 “Italy is no longer alone,” commented Luciana Lamorgese, minister of the interior.

 The next discussions to deal with the issue will be held in Luxembourg, on October 8.

 Laura Ferrara, MEP for the Five Star Movement, expressed “great satisfaction” with the meeting, saying that the agreement of France and Germany to such ideas as the rotating ports had not been a “foregone conclusion.”  She also commented that she expected cooperation from all European states at the October 8 meeting.

 “Combining respect for fundamental rights with the equal sharing of responsibilities… is possible and we have demonstrated it,” she said.

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