Italy’s Meloni pushes naval blockades to stop migrant boats

The cabinet has approved a bill allowing authorities to ban vessels from territorial waters during times of “exceptional pressure”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s cabinet approved a draft law on Wednesday authorizing naval blockades to prevent migrant boats from entering the country’s territorial waters. The proposal comes amid a crackdown on illegal migration in the EU country.

The bill, which must still pass both houses of parliament, empowers authorities to impose a ban on vessel passage for up to 30 days, or up to six months under certain drafts, during periods of “exceptional pressure” constituting a “serious threat to public order or national security.” Violators could face fines of up to €50,000 ($59,000) and boat confiscation for repeat offenses.

Additionally, the legislation introduces stricter border surveillance and expands the list of criminal convictions for which foreign nationals can be expelled from Italy. The bill also introduces tougher jail terms for human smugglers.

The legislation further stipulates that migrants aboard vessels denied entry be transferred to countries with which Rome has detention or return agreements, aiming to revive Meloni’s plan to outsource asylum processing to Albania – a project repeatedly blocked by court rulings.

Meloni, elected in 2022 on a promise to halt illegal sea arrivals, has pursued increasingly stringent migration policies as Italy remains a primary entry point for the tens of thousands crossing the Mediterranean annually. 

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Italy has remained the primary entry point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean into the EU. In 2025, an estimated 6,000 monthly sea arrivals were recorded, according to Italian Interior Ministry data, far exceeding numbers in other entry points like Greece and Spain.

High-profile crimes involving migrants, including gang rapes and violent assaults in Rome and other cities, have fueled public anger and bolstered support for tougher border controls. Similar tendencies have been observed across the EU where anti-migrant sentiment has seen a significant rise in recent years.

The issue has also been highlighted by Washington which has repeatedly cautioned Europe over its approach to migration. In December, US President Donald Trump argued that Europe is “destroying itself” with “disastrous” immigration policies. His new National Security Strategy also warned the continent faces potential “civilizational erasure” due to “socially disruptive migration” and “loss of national identities.”