The Italian Foreign Ministry today summoned the French ambassador to express its displeasure with Rome following Paris' harsh criticism of the Italian government for refusing to accept the more than 600 migrants aboard the Aquarius lifeboat.
French President Emmanuel Macron denounced Rome's decision, saying that under international law Italy should have accepted the immigrants. Rome responded by calling France's reaction "hypocritical."
On Friday, however, a meeting is scheduled in Paris between Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and French President Emanuel Macron.
The 630 migrants who have been stranded off the coast of Malta since Sunday aboard the Aquarius began their long voyage to Spain on Tuesday night, the non-governmental organization SOS Méditerranée announced via Twitter.
Some of the migrants have boarded two Italian ships, which are also heading to Spain.
The NGO, which has chartered Aquarius to help migrants trying to make the dangerous voyage from Libya to Europe, clarified that the ships started at 22.00 (Greek time). Their journey will take at least four days.