Open cities, rebel cities

It is June 2018, and a boat named Aquarius is carrying 630 migrants across the Mediterranean. Floating adrift off the coast of Italy, the central government refuses to open its ports. In response, several cities such as Naples, Taranto or Palermo announce their wish to welcome the boat, in an outburst of solidarity and humanism. At the same time, several voices are rising within the European institutions to ensure that a true continent-wide welcome policy is put in place. At a time when nation-states seem to be overwhelmed by the issue of migration flows, are cities and Europe the best echelons to deal with them? With Philippe Lamberts, Gesine Schwan, Élise Phamgia and Ludovic Lamant.