(ANSA) - Rome, December 5 - The EU's anti-human trafficking Sophia naval mission in the Mediterranean will stop when its current mandate expires at the end of the year unless the rules of the operation are changed, Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Wednesday. The government says the operation currently puts too much of the burden of rescued migrants on Italy.
"We are staying firm in our unwillingness to accept landing procedures that involve dockings only in Italian ports," Salvini told a Schengen committee hearing.
"Unless there is convergence on our positions, we do not consider it opportune to continue the mission".
Sophia mission will cease unless rules changed - Salvini
Rescued migrants should not land only in Italy says minister