A new Mediterranean border patrol mission planned by EU agency Frontex is still on the drawing board as Malta and Italy negotiate who would take the migrants rescued.

Malta and Italy have squabbled over this issue for years. While Malta insists that according to international law migrants should be taken to the nearest safe port, successive Italian governments have argued that they should be taken to the country coordinating the rescue.

Given the size of the search and rescue area that Malta is responsible for, stretching roughly from Tunisia to Crete, the Italian interpretation of maritime law would mean Malta would take practically all migrants picked up.

Frontex executive director Gil Arias-Fernandez told Times of Malta the agency would only ask for funds and assets after an agreement is reached.

“We feel that this question (of disembarkation) needs to be settled before we make a formal appeal for commitments to the member states,” he said.

The new mission is supposed to take over from Italy's Mare Nostrum operation.

More in Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.

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