The Maltese Government has agreed to take in dozens of migrants including three pregnant women after reaching an agreement with the Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini.
According to reports in Italy, the agreement comes after Salvini refused to allow 55 migrants who were rescued off the coast of Libya enter the country.
It is understood that Italy will now take in 55 other migrants from Malta as part of the agreement.
The transfer of migrants comes following a stand off between the Italian Interior Minister and the Italian charity Mediterranea who rescued the migrants off the coast of Libya on Thursday.
It is believed that the Salvini was left angered by the charity after the vessel refused to leave Italian waters and head to Malta.
According to The Local.it Salvini labeled the left wing activists as disobedient, violent and pirate” for not travelling to Malta when the vessel tried to disembark at the Italian island of Lampedusa.
The latest standoff comes as the Italian government has recently taken a hard stance when it comes to taking in stranded migrants.
The Italian Government say tougher policies have been introduced as the country has been bearing the brunt of illegal immigration in recent years.