Germany has swiftly reacted to remarks made by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk concerning the country’s ongoing migration debate. Musk took to his social media platform, known as “X” (formerly Twitter), to criticize German non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in Mediterranean operations, alleging they were “unloading illegal immigrants” in Italy.
As reported by CNN on Saturday, September 30, 2023, the post, originating from an X account using the handle “Radio Genoa,” claimed, “There are currently 8 German NGO ships in the Mediterranean Sea collecting illegal immigrants to be unloaded in Italy. These NGOs are subsidized by the German government. Let’s hope AfD wins the elections to stop this European suicide.”
Musk shared this post with his 158 million followers on Friday, questioning, “Is the German public aware of this?”
In response to Musk’s comments, the German Foreign Office issued a response on X, stating, “Yes. And it’s called saving lives.”
Musk continued to express his criticism, doubling down on Saturday with another post that read, “Frankly, I doubt that a majority of the German public supports this.”
Elon Musk’s comments come amid an ongoing dispute between Berlin and Italy regarding NGO sea operations.
Germany’s Interior Ministry recently announced a suspension, “until further notice,” of its acceptance of migrants arriving via Italy as part of a European voluntary solidarity initiative.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, speaking during the 10th summit for MED9 countries, emphasized that the migration issue could never be fully resolved if each nation simply shifted it to another.
The MED9 group comprises France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Croatia, and Slovenia, and they convened in Valletta, Malta, on Friday.
Meloni disclosed that she had spoken with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz the day before and suggested that Germany might be “taking half a step back.”
She stressed that “redistribution has never been the priority,” highlighting that unloading the problem on another country wouldn’t provide a complete solution. Instead, she emphasized the importance of addressing the issue’s external dimension.
Following their meetings on Friday, the MED-9 nations issued a joint statement, emphasizing the urgent need to address the increasing arrivals through Mediterranean routes.
They called for both short and medium-term solutions and urged the European Union (EU) to reduce primary movements, enhance the rate of returns for failed asylum seekers, and tackle the root causes of irregular migration effectively.
Each year, tens of thousands of migrants, fleeing war, persecution, and poverty, embark on a perilous journey in search of safety and better economic prospects.
Frequently, their overcrowded and unsuitable vessels necessitate rescue operations, leading to disputes among countries regarding responsibility for accommodating these migrants.
