Arnold Cassola, the Maltese member in the Italian parliament, has asked a parliamentary question regarding Italy’s failure to participate in the sea border patrol operation Nautilus II, which Malta, France, Germany and Greece currently form part of.

As he put forward the question to Italian Interior Minister Giuliano Amato, Prof. Cassola noted that it was now obvious that numerous incidents and humanitarian tragedies are taking place in the seas bordering Italy, Malta and Libya.

Prof. Cassola concluded: “In this context, does Minister Amato not agree that it useful for Italy to participate in Nautilus II, in view of the continuous tragedies in the Mediterranean and also considering that ‘Operation Nautilus II’ will provide a deterrent to irregular migration?”