Italy and Malta are at a deadlock over the stranded boat carrying 229 migrants

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Earlier on Thursday, the Dutch-flagged German ship Lifeline, owned by the charity of the same name, was refused entry to Rome's ports as the debate over the current migrant crisis in the EU raged on.

Spain had been in contact with Malta to offer humanitarian help with the ship, carrying more than 200 rescued migrants.

However, Italy revealed Malta had refused their request take in the Mission Lifeline ship, a government spokeswoman said on Friday.

It comes just one day after Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said the vessel should take the mirgants to The Netherlands.

Their calls follow the country's new coaltion government applying pressure on European partners to shoulder more of the burden of immigration from North Africa.