Meloni s cabinet set to approve new anti immigration package

Baku, February 11, AZERTAC

Premier Giorgia Meloni's cabinet is set to examine a new package of measures aimed at combatting illegal immigration on Wednesday, the government said.The package is expected include new powers that will make it possible for the authorities to impose a 'naval blockade" in certain situations, according to ANSA.

It would reportedly enable the authorities to ban the crossing into Italian territorial waters for up to 30 days, and extendable up to a maximum of six months, in cases of serious threats to public order or national security as in the concrete risk of terrorist acts or terrorist infiltration.

It would also be possible to impose the blockade in the case of "exceptional migratory pressure that could jeopardize the secure management of borders".

In such cases, the intercepted migrants could be "transported to third countries other than their country of origin, with which Italy has entered into specific agreements".

The government said the cabinet will also examine a bill to "implement" the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which comes into force in June.

The package come after the European Parliament on Tuesday approved a new list of safe countries to return migrants to as well as offshore processing hubs like Rome's in Albania.