A court in Palermo has ruled that the Italian ministries of the Interior, Transport, and Economy, along with the prefecture of Agrigento, are required to pay the German NGO Sea Watch almost 100,000 euros. This decision follows the unlawful detention of the Sea Watch 3 vessel during the infamous 'Rackete case', which gained significant media attention. The ruling includes 76,000 euros plus interest, with an additional 14,000 euros allocated for legal expenses inflicted on the organization.

The case revolved around the actions taken by Italian authorities against Sea Watch, which was involved in humanitarian efforts to rescue migrants in distress at sea. The court’s 14-page judgment highlighted severe criticisms of the government's approach to the NGO, thereby stating that their actions were unjust and constituted a violation of the group's rights. This legal decision underscores ongoing tensions between humanitarian organizations operating in the Mediterranean and national governments reluctant to accommodate migrant rescues.

This ruling is significant not only for Sea Watch but also reflects broader issues surrounding immigration law and the treatment of NGOs in Europe. Italy's increasingly stringent policies on migration have attracted considerable scrutiny and debate, with implications for both domestic and European Union-wide human rights standards. This development may influence future engagements between governments and NGOs and the treatment of migrants in distress.