On February 11, 2026, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's cabinet approved a hard-line migration bill designed to authorize naval blockades to secure Italy's borders during periods of "exceptional pressure".

 

Italian PM vows to secure borders and approves bill allowing naval blockades

On February 11, 2026, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's cabinet approved a hard-line migration bill designed to authorize naval blockades to secure Italy's borders during periods of "exceptional pressure".

 

Key Provisions of the Bill:

Naval Blockade Authority: Italian authorities would have the power to ban vessels from entering territorial waters for an initial 30 days, extendable up to six months. This measure can be triggered by "serious threats to public order or national security," such as terrorism risks or "exceptional migratory pressure".

Targeting Rescue Ships: Vessels breaching these bans face fines of up to €50,000 and potential confiscation for repeated violations, a move widely seen as targeting NGO rescue operations.

Offshore Processing: The legislation provides a framework to immediately transfer intercepted migrants to "safe" third countries like Albania or Tunisia for processing, bypassing Italian mainland ports.

Stricter Deportations: The bill expands the list of criminal convictions that can lead to expulsion and aims to speed up the deportation process.

 

Context and Status:

Legislative Status: The bill has been approved by the cabinet but must still be debated and passed by both houses of the Italian Parliament before becoming law.

EU Alignment: The measure was introduced just one day after the European Parliament approved a new EU-wide pact on migration and asylum.

Migratory Pressure: The government justified the "emergency" measures by citing a 17% increase in sea arrivals in 2025, which totaled over 112,000 people.

Criticism: Human rights organizations and opposition parties have condemned the bill, arguing that a naval blockade violates international law and the principle of non-refoulement.