Italy approves new migration bill including powers to impose ‘naval blockades’ on migrant ships

Italy’s government on Wednesday approved a bill introducing sweeping new measures to combat illegal immigration, including provisions for a controversial “naval blockade” that would allow authorities to prevent migrant ships from reaching Italian shores under certain conditions.

The legislation, approved during a late afternoon cabinet meeting led by Premier Giorgia Meloni, requires approval by both chambers of parliament before becoming law. The timing is significant, coming just one day after the European Union approved its new pact on migration and asylum, which Italy has pledged to implement quickly.

Under the proposed rules, Italian authorities would gain powers to ban vessels from entering territorial waters for up to 30 days when they pose “serious threats to public order or national security,” including potential terrorist risks. This prohibition could be extended up to six months in cases deemed particularly severe.

The bill also enables authorities to block ships when facing a surge of migrants that could overwhelm border management capabilities. Vessels violating these restrictions could face fines of up to 50,000 euros (approximately $59,400), with repeat offenders risking confiscation of their boats – a provision that appears targeted at humanitarian rescue ships operating in the Mediterranean.

In instances where vessels are intercepted, the bill provides for migrants to be “transported to third countries other than their country of origin, with which Italy has entered into specific agreements.” This language suggests an expansion of the Meloni government’s offshore processing strategy, similar to the controversial migrant centers established in Albania that have been largely inactive for about two years due to legal challenges.

These Albanian processing hubs represent a key element of Meloni’s migration management approach but have faced persistent criticism from human rights organizations regarding their legality and effectiveness. Critics argue such facilities potentially violate international refugee protections and humanitarian standards.

The Italian legislation aligns with the broader European shift toward more restrictive migration policies. Just a day before Italy’s bill was approved, the European Parliament voted for new immigration rules allowing member states to deny asylum and deport migrants from countries designated as “safe” or in cases where asylum could be sought in non-EU countries.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani publicly endorsed these EU-level changes, stating that “the confirmation from the European Parliament on the list of safe countries proves Italy right.”

Since taking office in 2022, Meloni’s right-wing government has prioritized reducing migration flows across the Mediterranean, where thousands attempt the dangerous journey to Europe each year. Italy, as a frontline Mediterranean state, has consistently pressed for greater EU involvement in managing migration, arguing that border nations shoulder a disproportionate burden of arrivals.

The naval blockade concept represents one of the most aggressive approaches to date, drawing comparisons to Australia’s controversial “turn back the boats” policy implemented in 2013. Migration experts note that such policies raise significant questions under maritime law and international refugee conventions, particularly regarding the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning asylum seekers to places where they face persecution or danger.

The legislation comes amid fluctuating migration patterns in the central Mediterranean. While arrivals to Italy decreased in early 2024 compared to the previous year, demographic and climate pressures in Africa and the Middle East continue to drive migration toward Europe’s southern borders.

As parliament begins deliberations on the bill, heated debate is expected both domestically and internationally, with EU institutions, United Nations agencies, and human rights organizations likely to scrutinize the measures for compliance with European and international law.