Meloni
push back migrant boats
In
February 2026, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government approved a landmark
bill authorizing the Italian Navy to impose naval blockades to prevent migrant
boats from entering Italian territorial waters. This move fulfills a central
promise of Meloni's 2022 election campaign to halt irregular sea arrivals.
Key
Measures of the New Legislation
Naval
Blockade Authority: The bill allows the government to ban vessels from entering
territorial waters for up to 30 days, extendable to six months, in cases of
"exceptional migratory pressure" or threats to national security.
Targeting
Rescue NGOs: Humanitarian ships breaching these bans face fines of up to
€50,000 ($54,000) and vessel confiscation for repeated violations.
Offshore
Processing: Migrants intercepted at sea may be diverted to third countries,
specifically aimed at reviving the use of processing centers in Albania that
were previously stalled by court rulings.
Expansion
of Expulsions: The legislation broadens the list of criminal convictions that
allow for the immediate expulsion of foreigners.
Context
and Opposition
EU
Alignment: Meloni's government claims these measures are compatible with the
newly approved EU Migration and Asylum Pact, which eases the deportation of
migrants from countries deemed "safe".
Humanitarian
Concerns: Critics and international organizations, such as the International
Rescue Committee, warn that collective pushbacks on the high seas violate
international law and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Domestic
Impact: While sea arrivals in early 2026 were reportedly down by over 50%
compared to the previous year, experts note that dangerous crossings continue,
with nearly 490 people missing in the Mediterranean in the first few weeks of
2026 alone.
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