Why Italy was right to refuse the Aquarius a port

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'It is simply unsustainable for Europe to ignore a never ending situation, which will ultimately lead to the collapse of the EU and the continent of Europe' (Isabelle Serro/SOS Mediterranee)

The refusal of Italy’s new government to accept the Aquarius in its ports is a drastic and unfortunate step to stop what has become an international criminal business of people trafficking, collecting migrants at sea off the North African or Greek coast and transporting them to Europe.

The international laws on saving people at sea means taking them to the nearest port so they can return home to their country of origin. If this was the case Italy, Spain or Greece would no doubt comply with the rules (even though they are far from the nearest ports in Libya or Turkey).

But the truth is the migrants pay for their perilous journeys and the traffickers deliberately put them in danger. The moment they set foot in Europe they claim refugee or asylum status. For the migrants landing in a European port means the right to remain for the rest of their lives.

This is why there are many young men, unaccompanied minors and pregnant women as well as unscrupulous gangs promising marriages with Europeans and forcing women into prostitution and even potential terrorists. The situation is out of control, and Italy has chosen to make a stand.

It is not an argument to state that Europe can easily accommodate hundreds of desperate people each time an ONG vessel docks. Given the population of Africa and the estimated 200 million people on the move, it is simply unsustainable for Europe to ignore a never-ending situation that will ultimately lead to the collapse of the EU.

African and Asian countries cannot treat their people as exports and must take responsibility for their own citizens while Europe has to make it clear that illegal migration must end. At the same time, as every expert knows, there has to be a Marshall plan and a fairer redistribution of the world’s resources and wealth to improve the living standards of the people in the poorer countries of the world.

It is time the UN organised an international conference with both rich and developing countries to listen to everyone’s concerns and fix new rules.

Peter Fieldman
Florence

It’s too late now to say sorry

Theresa May says she will “always regret” not meeting Grenfell Tower survivors after the fire.

Don’t feel bad about it PM, my guess is that they saw it as the only good element of that horrific episode.

Eddie Dougall
Bury St Edmunds

Something needs to be done before the G7 becomes the G-zero

The current G7, or G6+1 if you consider America’s approach, seems to be floundering. This can be shown with two photos; the official group shot compared to the one of Germany’s Angela Merkel appearing to be in conflict with President Trump.

For most of its existence it has been the G8, then the G7 with Russia out of the team at the moment, although it is probably G6 with the early departure of President Trump.

The usual statement, “we met, chatted and had a few ideas”, didn’t get much of a run with the Canadian prime minister’s announcements.

There is some doubt as to its purpose and even its nature. There is a claim that it includes democracies and yet Russia has been included. Italy is a democracy but not one that can seem to decide how to elect a functional government.

The suggestion that it represents the major industrialised countries seems doubtful as China is not included and Italy and France are.

Something needs to happen in the diplomatic world before the G8 shrinks through G7, G6 to G-zero and then is gone. Talking is great but achievements are more useful.

Dennis Fitzgerald
Melbourne, Australia

To cut down on plastic use, we should introduce a free nappy laundry service

I agree with Michael Clarke (Letters) that disposable nappies should just be banned.

I’m old and had no problem with using terries as a stay-at-home mum, but I recognise that young mothers now would find dealing with them unacceptable. So why not free nappies with a free laundry service?

Carol Wilcox
Christchurch

The Tories are the true cynics

You quote Iain Duncan Smith as saying: “Jeremy Corbyn will do everything he can to stop us. That includes cynically trying to frustrate the Brexit process for his own political ends, as he will try to do next week when the commons votes again on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill.”

That quote pretty much takes the biscuit for political cynicism. When David Cameron promised a referendum on staying or leaving the EU was that not a cynical move for political ends to avert the perceived threat from Ukip?

Patrick Cleary
Honiton

Nadal’s win on clay

Regarding Raphael Nadal’s historic win in the French Open tennis, your caption writers and sports sub-editors have missed a trick.

The headline surely should have been “Feat of clay”.

Ian McBain
Loughton