by InTrieste
Italy’s government on Wednesday approved a decree empowering authorities to temporarily bar vessels from entering the country’s territorial waters, a measure Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described as a decisive response to rising migration across the Mediterranean.
The legislation, adopted by Ms. Meloni’s cabinet, would allow officials to impose a 30-day ban — renewable for up to six months — on ships deemed to pose serious threats to public order or national security, or during what the government calls “exceptional migratory pressure.” Vessels that violate the order could face fines of up to €50,000, with repeat offenders risking confiscation.
Interior Ministry data show sea arrivals have increased 17 percent this year, reaching more than 112,000 in 2025. Officials say the surge justifies emergency measures to safeguard borders.
The decree also lays the groundwork for transferring intercepted migrants to third countries considered safe under bilateral agreements. The provision is intended to revive a 2023 protocol between Italy and Albania, under which asylum seekers could be processed in Italian-run centers outside Italy rather than on the mainland.
The move follows a vote by the European Parliament approving an updated list of countries designated as safe for returns — a decision welcomed by Rome as support for its strategy of processing asylum claims beyond European Union borders.
Opposition parties and humanitarian groups criticized the decree, warning it could conflict with international obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement, which bars returning people to places where they face persecution. Legal challenges are widely expected.
The bill must still be approved by Parliament, where the governing coalition holds a majority.
