• Italy's cabinet approved a bill for naval blockades against migrant boats.
• The bill permits blockades for up to six months during "exceptional pressure."
• The legislation aligns with the European Union's recent changes to asylum policies.
• Opposition parties criticize the bill for potentially violating international agreements.
• Migration numbers show a decrease in boat arrivals compared to last year.

Italy’s Cabinet has approved a contentious new bill aimed at tightening immigration laws by authorizing "naval blockades" against migrant boats during periods of "exceptional pressure" at its borders. This move marks an escalation in measures to combat irregular migration under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, significantly supported by the recent approval of changes to EU asylum rules that advocate stricter border management, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The draft legislation allows authorities to impose a naval blockade lasting up to 30 days, extendable to six months, in response to serious threats to public order or national security. Specific conditions cited for enacting such blockades include potential risks of terrorism and high levels of migratory pressure that threaten border management capabilities, underscores Reuters and Anadolu Agency.

Under the proposed regulations, migrant vessels found violating the naval blockade could face fines of up to €50,000 and potential confiscation, primarily targeting humanitarian rescue ships. Additionally, the bill aligns with recent EU policies that allow member states to deport migrants to countries considered "safe," if agreements are in place with those nations, according to Al Jazeera and Anadolu Agency.

Italy's opposition parties have expressed serious concerns regarding the repercussions of such legislation, arguing that it might contravene international agreements related to human rights and migration. They assert that a punitive strategy will not effectively address the underlying challenges of mass migration, as noted by Reuters and Anadolu Agency.

Recent statistics reveal a significant drop in the number of migrants reaching Italy by sea this year, with figures showing only 2,000 arrivals compared to 4,400 during the same period last year. However, humanitarian organizations continue to warn of the dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean, which remains one of the most perilous routes, according to Al Jazeera and Anadolu Agency.