Italy’s populist government to continue turning refugee rescue boats away as they boycott European crisis meeting

Humanitarian groups announce they are sending search and rescue boats back to Mediterranean as Italy warns they are not welcome

Italy's far-right government has left European leaders searching for a solution to the crisis

Italy’s populist government refused to relent on its policy turning away refugee rescue ships, as it boycotted a meeting of European ministers to tackle the Mediterranean migrant crisis.

In an effort to achieve unity on the ongoing influx of migrants entering the European Union (EU) through Italy’s shores, interior and foreign ministers from the 27 nation bloc met in Paris

It came as humanitarian groups announced they would return to the Mediterranean, defying current EU policy.

Italy's populist Interior Minister Matteo Salvini used his absence to send a message to France and Germany, objecting to them setting the bloc’s refugee policy while Italy faces the front-line consequences.

Along with other far-right parties, his League have warned refugee search and rescue boats to steer clear of Europe.

"We intend to make ourselves respected," the far-right Northern League party leader declared in a tweet.

Attached to a letter he sent to French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, Mr Salvini went on to write on Facebook: "Italy is no longer willing to accept all the migrants that arrive in Europe."

It is estimated that nearly 2,500 people have arrived in the country in the last year from war-torn Libya, where migrants are kept in prison-like camps branded appalling by international observers.

The number was eclipsed when the crisis was at its height in 2015, but this decline is largely the product of Italy blocking people from entering ports and dragging them back unwillingly to North Africa.

Italy's far-right leaders have also encouraged Libya to stop sending boats, a policy condemned by human rights groups.

The meeting of ministers in the French capital, was intended to seek a solution without the protagonist of the crisis present. It was called by French President Emmanuel Macron and held behind closed doors.

He later met with United Nations refugee and migration heads.

Hundreds have died attempting to make the hazardous crossing from Libya to European shores

Despite Mr Salvini's absence, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas voiced hope that a solution was on the horizon.

"The haggling about emergency rescue in the Mediterranean must finally end," he told reporters after the story. "It is really necessary that we manage to put together a coalition of those who are prepared to help, and I think we came a step closer to that today."

He said talks would continue among interior ministers about how an ad hoc mechanism might look that would make it possible for Italy and Malta to open their harbours.

Over the weekend French charity SOS Mediterranee, partnering with Doctors Without Borders, announced it has returned to the Mediterranean with a new boat to save migrants, seven months after the flag was pulled from its original ship, Aquarius.

The Norwegian-flagged Ocean Viking is heading to the Mediterranean with a 31-member crew in horror at so many making the dangerous voyage across the sea in smugglers' boats only to be sent straight back, the group said.

But, to the frustration of EU leaders, Mr Salvini wasted no time in warning the SOS Mediterranee that Italy was not going to reverse its policy of keeping rescue ships at bay.

"if someone is thinking about helping smugglers or breaking laws, be careful because we won't be standing still," he tweeted.

The Aquarius, SOS Mediterranee's original rescue ship, ended its operations last autumn after Panama revoked its flag and Italian prosecutors ordered the vessel seized. They accused Doctors Without Borders of illegally disposing of tons of contaminated and medical waste.

The organisation said the Aquarius assisted 30,000 migrants since 2016.

Mr Salvini is considering pulling out of his party's coalition with Italy's anti-establishment Five Star Movement, with whom he has clashed on many immigration and social issues.

It is a move that would trigger another round of elections but likely see much of the League's rural heartlands rally in support of the anti-immigrant politician.

According to the International Organisation for Migration, at least 426 people have died in their attempt to cross the central Mediterranean this year alone, while a UN report published in January revealed that for every day in 2018 six migrants died on the route.

Agencies contributed to this report