German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock spoke out against the idea of a "naval blockade" to stop migrant boats: "For all states, and also for the Federal Republic of Germany, the foundation is the European Convention on Human Rights", the "basis on which we make all laws and there are also clear rules on the issue of bringing boats back to the high seas. You have to give protection to people who are in distress at sea, you can't just turn them back," he said in a telephone interview with Germany's Deutschlandfunk radio.
'At the same time, and we have also anchored it together at European level, we must do everything possible to ensure that fewer boats are sailed,' added Mr Baerboeck.
We must "make migration agreements with countries in front of Europe, and in this Germany works as a leader, so that fewer human beings get on these dangerous boats", added the minister.
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