Luca Casarini announces German-flagged vessel for migrant rescue

Luca Casarini, founder of the NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans, has announced that the organization’s rescue vessel will fly a German flag for its upcoming mission. This move comes amid ongoing political tensions between Italy and Germany regarding the handling of migrants and the application of the Dublin Regulation.

Casarini stated that the use of a German flag is an expression of European solidarity. He challenged the Italian government to ensure that migrants rescued by German-flagged vessels are actually transferred to Germany, as suggested by recent political discourse. He emphasized that the primary goal of the mission is saving lives at sea, rather than engaging in political disputes over borders or Schengen rules.

Furthermore, Casarini called for the immediate assignment of safe ports in Sicily for rescued individuals, arguing that Italy should serve as a safe entry point into Europe rather than a place where migrants are forced to remain. He criticized the Dublin Regulation as an “absurd treaty” that places an unfair burden on the first country of entry.