[5] Over the past years, NGOs operating in large-scale rescue missions in the region have increasingly become targets of de-legitimisation and criminalization attempts by Frontex, European governments, high level politicians and officials, as well as the media.
[12] In July 2017, following threats to close its ports to NGO vessels, the Italian government introduced a code of conduct aimed at regulating the activities of non-governmental organizations involved in search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
[17][18][19][20][21][22] MOAS, Save the Children and Proactiva Open Arms were the first to sign the code of conduct, while MSF, Sea-Watch and Jugend Rettet, among others, initially refused.
[28] In June 2022, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) reported that since 2016, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Malta and the Netherlands had initiated 60 criminal and administrative proceedings against NGOs carrying out search and rescue operations.
[32] In June 2019, their vessel Sea-Watch 3, with 53 rescued people and 22 crew members on board, spent two weeks in international waters, without permission to disembark at the closest Italian port in Lampedusa.
[34] Following a significant deterioration of the conditions and health of those on board after 16 days at sea, Carola Rackete declared a state of emergency and made the decision to defy the Italian authorities’ refusal, and docked in Lampedusa.