- Italy criticises Germany for funding migrant charity groups

Italy’s defense minister, Guido Crosetto, expressed concerns about a German plan to finance charities assisting migrants in the Mediterranean. This comes as Rome is implementing stricter measures to reduce the number of sea arrivals. The German foreign ministry confirmed that they have received funding applications and have already completed the review process for two projects, with each project receiving between 400,000 and 800,000 euros. Crosetto criticized Germany’s actions, stating that it causes difficulties for Italy, a country that should be considered a friend. He emphasized Italy’s commitment to combating human smugglers, whom he believes should be treated as international criminals. Germany’s foreign ministry defended their support for rescuing people at sea, stating that it is a legal, humanitarian, and moral duty. Recent data from Italy’s interior ministry shows a significant increase in the number of migrants reaching Italy by boat compared to the previous year. On Saturday, charity SOS Humanity announced that it would receive approximately 790,000 euros in funding from the German government. Italy, known for its tough stance on illegal immigration, has announced plans to increase the number of detention centers and extend the detention period for migrants awaiting possible repatriation. Additionally, the government has implemented a policy requiring migrants to pay to avoid detention while their asylum requests are being processed, which has drawn criticism from human rights groups.