Italy’s Meloni moves to allow naval blockades against migrants

Italy’s cabinet approved a bill on Wednesday authorising naval blockades to halt migrant boats during periods of “exceptional pressure” at the country’s borders, a government source said, further tightening measures against irregular arrivals.

Since taking office in late 2022, right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has moved to speed up repatriations of unsuccessful asylum seekers and introduced stiffer jail terms for human smugglers, in a bid to stem sea crossings.

The move...